Clara  Lotttsr  iSttrnbam. 


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THE  V^ISE  Vv'OMAN.  IMI 
MlSS  ARCHER  ARCHE  R. 
A  GREAT  LOVE.  A  Xovc 


A  Great  Love 


BY 


CLARA   LOUISE   BURNHAM 


BOSTON    AND    NEW    YORK 
HOUGIITON,  MIFFLIN   AND   COMPANY 


1899 


fOFYIUGHT,   1>!W,    r,Y   CI.AHA    T.oriSE   BURMU1I 
ALL   EIGHTS    IltSEKVEU 


CONTENTS 


CHAP.  PAGE 

I.  A  CLAIM  OF  FRIENDSHIP      .....  1 

II.  Miss  GAYLORD 12 

III.  THE  CARRUTHS 27 

IV.  Ix  THE  Music  ROOM          .....  44 
V.  SOCIETY 61 

VI.  A  XKW  LEAF     .......  7(> 

VII.  A  VOYAGE  OF  DISCOVERY 95 

VIII.  CONFIDENCES       .......  113 

IX.  Miss  BEEKE'S  QUEST     ......  131 

X.  Miss  GAYLORD  RECEIVES  .  147 

XL  DOUBTS  AND  FEARS       ......  1G1 

XII.  THE  CONCERT 174 

XIII.  VACATION 192 

XIV.  CLIFF  XEST 200 

XV.  SUMMER  DAYS 220 

XVI.  THE  BETRAYAL 238 

XVII.  MOTHER  AND  CHILD 255 

XVIII.  BY  THE  SEA 273 

XIX.  THE  ONE  QUESTION 288 

XX.  AT  SUNSET 303 


2200G38 


A  GREAT  LOYE 


CHAPTER   I 

A    CLAIM    OF    FRIENDSHIP 

IN  his  bachelor  apartment  in  Boston,  Willarcl 
French  lay  on  the  divan,  reading.  By  an  original 
arrangement  of  cushions  his  heels  were  nearly  as 
high  as  his  head,  and  his  body,  as  it  hazily  appeared 
through  the  cloud  of  smoke  that  embowered  it,  de 
scribed  a  semicircle. 

The  early  winter  afternoon  was  dark,  and  a 
drop-light  cast  its  beams  upon  a  page  that  absorbed 
the  young  man  so  that  in  his  luxurious  comfort  he 
failed  to  hear  a  knock  at  his  door.  It  was  repeated, 
and  at  last  reached  his  consciousness. 

"  Come  in,"  mumbled  the  reader  along  his  pipe- 
stem.  Instead  of  obeying,  the  unseen  applicant 
made  a  louder  plea  for  entrance.  It  was  Sunday 
afternoon.  French  could  name  with  approximate 
certainty  the  visitor  who  might  be  seeking  him. 

"  What 's  the  matter  with  you  ?  "  he  roared, 
dropping  his  book.  "  Come  —  in  !  " 

The  door  opened,  and  as  the  clearing  haze 
revealed  the  feminine  form  that  confronted  him, 


French  bounded  into  the  middle  of  the  floor.  pipe 
in  hand,  and  stared  helplessly  at  the  middle-aged 
and  disgusted  face  regarding  him  from  under  a 
tightly-curled  brown  coiffure.  The  newcomer  was 
dressed  in  rich  fabrics,  but  she  wore  ear-rings  \vith 
drops,  and  solid  bracelets  encircled  her  gloved 
wrists,  in  a  dav  when  such  ornaments  were  usually 
relegated  to  packing-boxes. 

"How  do  you  do.  Willard  French?  I'ugh  ! 
How  it  smells  in  here  !  " 

The  young  man  dropped  his  pipe  on  the  man 
telpiece  and  shook  hands  mechanically. 

*•  It  IK  smoky.  Miss  Beebe."  he  said  apologeti 
cally.  "Shan't  I  open  the  window  ?"  suiting  the 
action  to  the  word. 

••  Both  windows  :  do.  - — so  a  body  can  breathe. 
AVhat  do  you  suppose  the  inside  of  yonr  lungs 
looks  like  ?  " 

'•I  can  reply  with  devout  gratitude  that  I  don't 
know,  and  am  not  likely  to  until  the  X  ray  is 
improved  upon.  My  bones  are  all  right,  though." 
he  added,  smiling  at  his  guest  and  offering  her  tin- 
most  comfortable  chair  in  the  room.  ••  I  "ve  seen 
some  of  those  myself.  \\  ell.  it  s  a  long  time 
since  I  "ve  met  you.  There  was  a  period  when  we 
were  not  such  unusual  Sunday  afternoon  compan 
ions." 

u  Willard,"  said  Miss  Beebe,  returning  his  look 
earnestly,  *••  you  were  the  smartest  and  the  most 
mischievous  boy  in  the  whole  Sunday-school. 


A    CLAIM    OF   FRIENDSHIP  3 

The  velvet  shoulders  of  the  young  man's  jacket 
shook.  "  I  give  you  my  word,  my  first  thought 
when  I  saw  you  just  now  was,  '  Xo  card  to- 
day  ! ' 

The  visitor  nodded  her  head  reminiscently. 
"  I  'm  afraid  I  gave  you  a  picture  card  a  great 
many  times  when  you  did  n't  deserve  it,"  she  said 
seriously. 

"  My  winning  ways,  eh?  " 

"No,  you  were  a  scamp;  but,"  thoughtfully, 
"your  nails  were  always  so  clean." 

"  Xot  my  fault,  you  may  be  sure.  How 's 
everybody  in  Springdale  ?  " 

"  Everybody  's  well.  Why  don't  you  ever  come 
back  and  see  us  ?  " 

"  Labor,  Miss  Lu.  Have  to  keep  my  brow  in 
a  chronic  state  of  perspiration." 

"  Nonsense !  " 

"  Thanks  for  your  sympathy.  How  did  you 
find  me,  if  I  may  ask  ?  " 

"  Why,  you  ain't  hiding,  are  you?"  Miss 
Beebe  smiled  into  his  smooth-shaven  face. 

"Well — er  —  not  exactly;  but  I  always  cal 
culate  to  shove  a  few  things  under  the  divan  and 
dust  the  tea-kettle  before  I  entertain  ladies  here." 

"  Oh !  you  don't  mind  me,  Willard  !  You  bet 
ter  shut  those  windows,  I  guess." 

"  Whose  lungs  are  catching  it  now  ?  "  he  asked, 
as  he  obeyed.  *'  Better  nicotine  than  pneumonia, 
eh  ?  " 


4  A     CRl'.AT    l.OVr. 

••  \o\v  come  here  and  sit  <lo\vn.  for  it 's  Dotting 
late,  and  I  'in  going  t()  Mrs-  Carruth's  to  tea." 

k-()h!  Mrs.  Carrnth  told  you  where  I  was. 
T\  liv  did  n  t  slie  send  ior  me  to  come  to  von 
instead  of  letting  you  yenture  into  my  den  ?  " 

"  She  offered  to,  Imt.  Miss  Beebe  winked  mys 
teriously.  ••  I  wanted  to  see  you  alone. 

••Well."  French  smiled,  "that  doesn't  scare 
me  so  much  as  it  once  would.  I  'in  bigger  than 
you  are  now. 

••  Fiddlesticks  !  I.  always  treated  you  too  well, 
and  you  know  it  !  Now.  '  in  a  business-like  tour. 
"•  there  's  another  tiling  that  you  know.  A  great 
many  people  impose  on  .Mrs.  Carrnth." 

French  shook  his  head.  ••  Don  t  you  believe 
it!  People  who  try  to  impose  on  Mrs.  ('arr;:th 
come  out  at  the  little  end  of  the  horn.  She  reads 
people  like  a  Look. 

u  I  know  wliat  you  mean  :  but  she  is  philan 
thropic  and  generous,  genuinely  so.  and  because 
she  is  rich,  people  come  to  her  with  eyery  scheme 
and  eyery  perplexity  until,  if  it  was  n't  for  prin 
ciple,  I  "in  sure  she  d  moye  to  a  desert  island. 
.Now.  I  'ye  got  a  scheme  and  a  perplexity  of  my 
own,  and  of  course  my  first  thought  was  Kmehne 
Carruth  :  but  I  said  to  myself:  •  Isn't  there 
something  I  can  do  beside  saddle  Knieline  with  a 
new  care?  Think.'  said  J,  -isn't  there  anybody 
else  in  Boston  Imt  Mrs.  C'arrnth  ?  '  So  I  just 
ran  over  in  my  mind  the  people  I  knew,  and 


A    CLAIM   OF   FRIENDSHIP  5 

especially  I  tried  to  think  of  people  in  boarding- 
houses,  for  of  course  Althea  's  got  to  board ;  she 
could  n't  very  well  do  anything  else,  could  she  ? 
Light  housekeeping  's  one  of  the  biggest  burdens 
a  body  can  shoulder.  Don't  you  think  so  ?  Or 
have  n't  you  had  any  experience?  Well,  I  thought 
at  last  of  you." 

"Hold  on,  Miss  Lu !  "  French  put  his  hand 
to  his  head.  "  Won't  you  go  a  little  slower  ?  I 
feel  as  if  I  were  looking  at  a  cinematograph  that 
would  n't  hold  still.  Who  is  Althea  ?  " 

"  Why,  she  's  the  girl,  of  course,  that  I  want 
you  to  look  after." 

"  Oh,  I  say !  "  A  hunted  look  came  into 
French's  eyes.  "  I  have  so  many  girls  to  look 
after  already  !  I  have  to  sit  up  nights  to  get 
through  ;  and  there  's  a  waiting-list  as  long  as  my 
arm" 

"  Willard  French,"  severely,  "  I  little  thought 
you  would  n't  oblige  me  !  " 

"  Why,  Miss  Beebe,  anything  that  I  really  could 
do"- 

"  Well,  you  really  could  do  this,"  inexorably, 
"only  I  haven't  explained  to  you.  Althea  Gay- 
lord  is  the  daughter  of  an  old  friend  of  mine  who 
lives  in  Denver.  She  wants  Althea  to  come  East 
to  study  music." 

"  Chicago  's  the  place  !  "  ejaculated  French  with 
conviction.  "  Chicago  's  a  great  musical  centre, 
and  so  much  nearer  home.  Thomas's  Orchestra 


every  week,  musical  chilis  galore.      Telegraph  Mrs. 
(iaylord        wire  her  before  it 's  too  late  !      I  don  t 

mind  !_;-oin";  rildit  out  now.      The  uiri  may  start." 

"  Willard  French,  sit  down!"  Miss  I'cehe 
pulled  him  forcibly  into  the  chair  lie  was  vacating. 
"  Alrhea 's  in  Springdale  already.  Now  wait.  I 
thought  lio\v  nice  it  would  lie  for  the  child  if  she 
could  board  in  the  same  house  you  did  :  >ome  one 
to  speak  to  at  meals,  sonic  one  to  post  her  letters 
for  her.  you  know  the  many  little  tiling  that 
come  up  in  bad  weather 

"  ^  es.  I  know,     groaned   French. 

" 'I  hen  if  she  should  be  ill  in  the  ni^'lit. 
some  one  that  she  would  feel  a  riu'ht  to  call  upon 
and  send  for  the  doctor,  or  anything  like  tiiat. 
All  little  things,  yet  making  such  a  difference  in  a 
girl  s  comfort.  I  've  no  doubt  she  d  lie  happ\  to 
mend  your  clothes  in  return,  and  it  would  be  very 
nice  for  you. 

•••  No,  thank  you.  Miss  IVebe  !  with  sudden 
spirit.  "No  ji'irls  rummaging'  around  my  room 
in  the  daytime,  if  YOU  please!  'I  hen  with  a 
change  of  tone:  "Mrs.  Carruth  is  the  person  to 
attend  to  this,  take  my  word  for  it.  She  "11  know 
all  the  best  boarding-places.  She  's  a  complete 
directory  in  herself." 

"No.  \Yillard.  I'm  capable  of  doing  without 
Mrs.  Carruth.  In  fact.  I  have  already  succeeded. 
I  saw  your  landlady  before  I  came  to  you.  and 
luckily  she  is  about  to  have  a  room  vacated.  It 


A    CLAIM    OF   FRIENDSHIP  7 

is  just  the  tiling  for  Althea  ;  right  next  to  yours, 
which  Mrs.  Barlow  said  was  fortunate,  for  then, 
you  being  away  all  clay,  the  piano  won't  disturb 
you." 

u  If  it  does,  I  can  move  !  "  remarked  French 
doggedly.  lie  had  been  entertaining  visions  of 
bribing  his  landlady  to  have  no  vacant  rooms,  but 
now  saw  escape  in  that  direction  cut  off. 

"  I  'in  sorry  you  don't  cooperate  with  me  more 
cordially,"  said  Miss  Beebe,  with  gentle  reproach. 
"  I  looked  for  better  things  from  an  old  friend." 

"  You  see  when  a  fellow 's  so  busy  "  —  began 
her  host. 

u  Althea  will  be  a  stranger  here,"  pursued  Miss 
Beebe  accusingly.  "  Dear  me  !  "  she  rose  sud 
denly.  "  It 's  dark  as  night  already,  and  there 
are  the  most  awful  things  in  the  paper  about  peo 
ple  being  held  tip  before  six  o'clock  !  " 

'•  I  '11  walk  over  to  Mrs.  Carruth's  with  you," 
said  French. 

"•  That  's  a  good  boy,"  responded  his  friend 
gratefully.  "  You  see,"  she  continued,  as  they 
went  out  of  doors  together,  "if  't  was  n't  for  Pa, 
I  'd  come  to  Boston  and  stay  with  Althea  myself. 
I  should  admire  to  spend  a  winter  here,  but  't  ain't 
fair  to  try  to  move  Pa  at  his  age,  so  I  'm  tied  right 
to  Springdale.  Then  even  if  he  could  come,  I 
should  n't  be  free  to  leave  him  and  go  around  with 
her  nights,  the  way  you  can." 

"  Indeed   I    can't !       Don't    think    that    for    a 


8 

minute,"  returned  French  warmly.  The  fact  that 
they  were  on  a  public  highway  freed  him  from 
the  restraints  of  hospitality  \vhich  a  little  while 
ago  had  coerced  him.  '•  Kverybody  s  busy  here. 
Ask  Mrs.  Carruth  if  I  'm  likely  to  ha\v  time  to  he 
at  your  protegee's  Leek  and  call.  Come  now. 
Miss  Beebe.  you  don  t  know  what  you  re  talking 
about!  " 

'•  I  trust  you.  \\  illard.  I  'ye  known  you,  boy 
and  man.  for  tweiity-fiye  years,''  returned  his 
companion,  with  unmoved  complacency.  ••  and  1 
Lave  a  ]>ride  about  discussing  the  matter  v.  ith 
Mrs.  Carruth.  She  neyer  has  had  cause.  I 
believe,  to  consider  her  old  school-iriend  a  hanger- 
on,  and  she  neyer  shall.  Kmeline  s  been  loyalty 
itself  to  me  always,  in  fact  she  has  to  all  her  old 
Springdale  connections,  and  I  should  n't  be  sur 
prised  if  she  would  take  Althea  right  into  her  own 
splendid  house  for  the  winter  if  I  should  ask  it  ; 
but  I  wouldn't  do  it  for  the  world.  \\  hy.  Mrs. 
Carruth  would  remember  Althea's  mother  ;  she 
was  a  Springdale  girl  too. 

"Well,  I' re  no  pride  about  discussing  it  with 
her,''  remarked  French  coolly.  '•  In  fact,  I  shall 
regard  Mrs.  Carruth  in  the  light  of  a  life  pre 
server." 

Miss  l^eeLe  appeared  to  see  no  threat  in  this. 
"  Yes,  she  agreed  cheerfully,  *•  if  anything  should 
happen  to  Althea  more  than  ordinary,  you  could 
always  consult  Mrs.  Carruth." 


A    CLAIM   OF  FRIENDSHIP  9 

The  stare  which  her  companion  gave  her  passed 
unnoticed. 

"  What  a  fine  girl  Margaret  has  come  to  be ! 
I  hope  she  and  Althea  will  l>e  great  friends." 

"  Humph  !  "  returned  French  non-committally. 

"  Why,  you  think  they  will,  don't  you,  Wil- 
lard?" 

"  How  should  I  know?  " 

"  Well,  Margaret  Carruth  's  a  kind,  friendly 
girl,  is  n't  she?  " 

u  Sometimes." 

"  Dear  me  !  Why,  she  always  seems  so  attrac 
tive  !  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  she  's  that  all  right.  There 's  a 
slight  mistake  in  spelling  her  name.  It  ought  to 
be  M-a-g-n-e-t ;  but  then,  there  are  some  clods 
that  don't  feel  a  magnet's  attraction,  you  know." 

"  Well,  you  're  polite  !  You  can  stop  calling 
Althea  names  right  now !  " 

Here  a  man  advancing  in  the  electric  light 
lifted  his  hat  at  sight  of  French. 

"  Why,  it 's  Vandyke  !  "  said  the  latter,  stop 
ping  and  extending  his  hand.  "  Miss  Beebe,  let 
me  introduce  Mr.  Vandyke.  Won't  you  turn 
around  and  join  us  ?  Mr.  Vandyke  is  a  new 
comer  in  Boston,  and  I  have  been  telling  him  he 
must  meet  Mrs.  Carruth.  We  are  on  our  way 
there  now,  Vandyke.  Won't  you  come  ?  " 

"  Thank  you,  but  I  have  an  engagement  already 
at  the  house  of  one  of  your  friends,  —  Mrs.  Dar- 
ling." 


1 0 

"Oil,  yon  Imvc !  "  French  laughed,  ;m<!  the 
stranger  regarded  him  question  inglv.  ••  \\  hv  do 
you  call  her  my  friend?"  asked  Willard.  ••  I 
did  n't  introduce  you  there." 

"  No;    hut  she  told  me  she  knew  von. 

"Indeed  she  does!  All  right,  then:  another 
time." 

"Stunning  chap,  isnt  he?  asked  French  of 
his  companion,  as  thev  strolled  on.  ••  And  Mrs. 
Darling's  got  hold  of  him  already!  '  he  added 
musingly. 

"Humph!  She's  a  cat!"  remarked  Miss 
.Heche  concisely. 

"  She  ?  She  is  all  that  her  name  implies," 
laughed  French.  ••  She  's  a  very  dii<-  woman,  let 
me  tell  you." 

"She  IK.'"  ejaculated  Miss  Heche.  "Well, 
she  ain't  much  like  me.  then.  \\  hen  1  'in  -ick  I 
don't  feel  like  entertaining  anybody  :  hut  per 
haps  that  man  s  a  doctor. 

French  smiled.  "  No.  Vandyke  's  a  lawyer. 
He  might  make  her  will  for  her.  though.  Hut 
the  speaker's  own  immediate  trouhles  turned  his 
humor  to  dejection.  "  \\  hen  do  you  return  to 
Springdale.  Miss  Heche? 

"To-morrow.  I  shall  send  Althea  on  the  last  of 
the  week.  [  don't  know  as  you  'd  hetter  bring 
that  Mi1.  Vandyke  to  see  her  right  away.  He's 
so  stern-looking,  he  'd  scare  a  little  thing  like 
Althea." 


A    CLAIM    OF   FRIENDSHIP  11 

"  Very  well.  I  '11  try  to  hold  him  back  from 
too  sudden  and  overwhelming  attentions  to  her." 

"  Xow  you  need  n't  be  sarcastic  !  First  impres 
sions  are  important.  He'd  scare  me  if  I  was  a 
girl.  His  eyes  are  beautiful,  but  he  looks  as  if 
he  would  n't  smile  for  a  farm,  and  he  holds  his 
head  up  as  if  he  'd  swallowed  the  poker  ;  then 
those  short  pointed  beards  always  give  a  face  a 
solemn  look," 

"  You  've  been  ever  so  good  to  bring  me  over, 
"Willard,"  she  went  on,  when  they  reached  the 
Carruth  steps.  "  Ain't  you  going  to  come  in  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  'm  sorry,  but  I  have  an  engagement." 

"  But  you  were  going  to  come  in  with  that 
lawyer  man,"  she  returned  shrewdly. 

"Yes.  Th<it  would  have  been  a  previous  en 
gagement,"  explained  French  blandly. 

"  Oh  !  "  said  Miss  Beebe.  "  Good-by,  then," 
shaking  hands  with  him.  "  I  shall  hear  from  you 
often  through  Althea.  I  ain't  positively  certain 
yet  what  day  she  '11  start,  but  when  she  gets 
here,"  Miss  Beebe  gave  a  little  satisfied  laugh, 
"  just  consider  yourself  engaged  to  her." 

French  lifted  his  hat  and  turned  on  his  heel 
precipitately,  with  a  murmur  which,  fortunately 
for  his  ex-Sunday-school  teacher,  came  but  coiv 
fusedly  to  her  ear. 

"  What  was  that  he  said  about  Althea  being  a 
lamb  ?  "  she  mused  as  she  rang  the  bell. 


CIIAITKK    II 

.MISS     <i. \Y1.0IM) 

IT  was  fortunate  for  Miss  Heche  that  she  was 
not  of  a  self-distrustful  nature:  for. .as  a  matter 
ot  fact,  m  her  present  trip  to  Huston  >he  had  not 
pleased  anybody  but  herself. 

In  the  iirst  place.  Miss  (iavlord  felt  that  she 
OUi^'ht  to  have  been  permitted  to  uo  \\ith  her  and 
make  her  own  arrangements  for  her  winter  cam 
paign.  She  did  not  sav  so.  liowever,  tor  Mrs. 
(iavlord.  \\hile  accustomed  and  resigned  to  beiu^ 
the  victim  ot  her  daughter  s  independence,  per 
haps  l>einj>' even  a  little  [)roud  ot  it.  ([iiestioned 
its  effect  ii])on  her  friends  in  the  more  conserva 
tive  Kast.  and  had  exhorted  Althea  to  be  gently 
subject  to  whatever  dictum  the  Heches  chose  to 
issue. 

"•The  Heches  had  lieen  so  often  quoted  to  the 
(i;'irl  after  her  mother  decided  to  let  her  ^'o  to  Bos 
ton,  that  for  Althea  the  title  acquired  a  vast  sii;- 
niiicance.  "NY hen  she  arrived  at  Spring-dale  and 
found  this  potent  and  awful  family  to  consist  of 
a  superannuated  gentleman  with  an  overdressed 
elderly  daughter,  living  quietly  in  an  old-fashioned 
bouse,  her  surprise  \\as  ^reat.  but  unexpressed. 


MISS    GAY  LORD  13 

Miss  Beebe  approved  the  fastidious  neatness  of 
the  girl's  dress,  the  smoothness  of  her  imcrimped 
hair,  the  demure  look  in  her  young  faee,  and  the 
alert,  observant  expression  of  her  eyes  ;  but  the 
good  lady  would  have  been  electrified  if  she  had 
known  the  effect  produced  upon  the  newcomer  by 
the  long-respected  house  of  Beebe. 

DEAR  MA, — I'm  here  all  right  (wrote  the 
girl),  but  I  should  die  if  1  had  to  stay  in  Spring- 
dale  long.  According  to  what  you  besought  me 
to  do,  I  practiced  talking  to  the  porter  all  the  way 
on  without  using  any  slang.  1  think  I  improved 
him  very  much  by  my  conversation.  So  far  I 
haven't  frightened  anybody  here.  I  shouldn't 
talk  at  all,  to  be  on  the  safe  side,  if  I  were  n't 
afraid  of  going  to  sleep  and  snoring,  if  I  kept  per 
fectly  still.  Miss  Beebe  is  awfully  kind,  but  she 's 
such  a  moss-back,  she  would  n't  let  me  go  to  Bos 
ton  with  her  to  make  my  arrangements.  She 
does  n't  seem  to  think  I  'm  able  to  do  anything 
but  sit  in  a  high  chair  and  beat  the  table  with 
a  rattle.  Such  a  funny  back-number  as  she  is ! 
But  she  's  as  kind  as  she  is  fussy,  and  I  shall  not 
forget  it,  etc.,  etc. 

Mrs.  Carruth,  while  her  friend  Luella  was  with 
her,  perceived  the  burden  of  concealment  the  lat 
ter  was  carrying ;  but  not  until  the  hour  of  her 
departure  did  Miss  Beebe  explain  herself. 


11 

"  I  have  n't  told  you  my  errand  here,  Emeline, 
because  I  did  n  t  want  to  trouble  vim,  she  said 
impressively:  ••  but  you  remember  Lix/ie  Stewart, 
who  used  to  go  to  school  with  us  7 

Mrs.  ('arruth  replying  vaguely.  Miss  Heche  con- 
tinued  :  "She  married  a  (iaylord  and  went  to 
Deliver  to  h\'e.  Her  daughter  is  coming  to  Bos 
ton  to  studv  music,  and  I  undertook  to  make  the 
arrangements.  I  determined  not  to  trouble  von, 
and  I  haven't,  have  I  ?  "  triumphantly. 

"  No  :  !mt  I  'm  glad  vour  mv.->terioii>  prome 
nades  have  meant  nothing  worse.  I  thought  it 
von  had  a  trouble  so  deep  that  vou  could  n  t 
explain  it  to  me.  tilings  were  indeed  going  i!!  with 
yon." 

"  Now,  Kmeline.  you  have  n  t  worried  v  1  tried 
to  do  every  tiling  for  the  best,  and  1  \e  got  board 
for  Althea  in  the  house  with  \Yillard  French,  and 
1  know  you'll  befriend  her  if  anything  comes  up  : 
but  still,  I  don  t  want  vou  to  feel  anv  burden 
about  her.  She's  a  sensible,  <puet  little  thing. 
and  her  life  ought  to  be  studying  and  sleeping, 
with  some  outdoor  exercise.  I  shall  start  her  off 
with  plenty  of  good  advice. 

This  ^\liss  Bec.be  did.  previously  laying  before 
Althea  with  much  explieitness  the  results  of  her 
researches  in  conservatory  and  boarding-place. 
She  even  handed  to  the  girl  her  tickets  for  the 
symphony  rehearsals. 

"  Now    I   think    I  've   seen   to   everything,"    >he 


MISS    GAY  LORD  15 

finished,  "  except  renting  your  piano.  I  thought 
most  likely  you  'd  rather  pick  it  out  yourself." 

"  That  was  very  thoughtful  of  you,  Miss  Beebe," 
returned  the  circumspect  Althea,  whose  wings 
began  to  flutter  like  those  of  the  caged  bird  who 
sees  a  chance  of  escape. 

"  Xow  I  've  told  you  not  to  appeal  to  Mrs.  Car- 
ruth  unless  it 's  necessary.  You  must  let  me  help 
you  as  much  as  I  can  at  this  distance  ;  but  you 
understand  about  the  Carruths,  don't  you  ?  " 

Althea  nodded,  and  groaned  in  spirit.  If  she 
did  not  understand,  it  was  not  from  any  failure  on 
Miss  Beebe's  part  to  enlarge  upon  the  riches,  the 
position,  the  importance,  and  the  responsibilities 
of  the  Carruths,  mother  and  daughter. 

"  And  oh !  I  forgot  to  tell  you  about  Mr. 
French !  I  selected  his  boarding-place  for  you  on 
purpose,  so  that  you  should  n't  be  alone  in  a 
strange  land." 

"  But  I  like  to  be  alone,"  said  Althea  restively. 
"  If  I  did  n't,  I  should  n't  have  left  home." 
Her  speech  was  always  deliberate,  with  a  reposeful 
sort  of  drawl  which  amused  her  hostess. 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  I  know  ;  but  you  have  n't  tried 
it,  and  in  case  of  sickness  " 

"  In  case  of  sickness  I  don't  know  what  a  man 
could  do  for  me." 

"  Why,  go  for  the  doctor,  of  course,  or  any 
other  errand  you  need  done." 

Althea  smiled.  "  What  sort  of  disposition  has 
Mr.  French?" 


16 

'••A  <>>oo<l  average  disposition.  I  knew  him  all 
his  life  till  he  went  to  college,  and  \\illard  's  a 
nice  boy." 

"Boy!"  t'jaculatt'd  Althea.  "I  low  old  is  my 
kind  g'nardian  ?  '' 

••  \\  ell.  let  s  see.  lie  must  be  about  twenty- 
six  now." 

"  Great  —  I  mean,  dear  me  !  '  The  ^irl  red 
dened.  "  Did  yon  tell  linn  his  prospects? 

tw  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  That  he  was  expected  to  run  errands  for 
me?" 

••  I  cn-ave  him  a  <^eneral  idea  of  what  I  expected 
of  him." 

"•  How  did  he  take  it  ?  " 

'•Oh,  very  well,"  Miss  Heche  hesitated.  She 
seemed  all  at  once  to  realize  Willard's  mirespon- 
siveness  in  clearer  liyht.  '•  At  any  rate,  she 
continued,  with  an  air  of  certainty,  ••  there  "s  no 
doubt  that  Mr.  French  is  a  gentleman.  Of  course, 
he  has  his  faults.  For  one  tiling,  he  smokes  a 
pipe  :  but  he  comes  of  a  jj;ood  family,  and  yon  11 
find  he'll  never  refuse  yon. 

*••  Well,  I  hope,  myself,  it  won't  come  to  that." 
remarked  Altliea  dryly.  kw  I  'm  sure  you  ve  been 
very  <>'ood.  Miss  Beebe,  and  provided  for  every 
possible  emergency.  T  feel  that  each  day  that 
passes  now  liefore  I  yet  to  my  work  is  so  much 
time  wasted,  so  I  think  1  'd  better  go  rig'lit  on  to 
Boston,  if  you  don't  mind." 


MISS    GAY  LORD  17 

"•  "Well,  my  dear,  please  yourself.  You  must 
write  to  me  soon.  I  hope  you  and  Margaret  Car- 
ruth  will  be  great  friends ;  but  still,  you  must  n't 
expect  anything1,  for  she  is  HO  sought  after !  My !  " 
Miss  Beebe  clasped  her  ringed  hands  and  cast  up 
her  eyes  to  convey  how  totally  words  failed  her. 

"  If  she  only  could  understand  that  all  I  want 
is  to  be  let  alone !  "  thought  Althea,  drawing  exul 
tant  breaths  when  she  found  herself  on  the  train 
speeding  toward  the  longed-for  haven.  "  AVhat 
do  I  care  for  her  old  Carruths  ?  I  guess  I  have 
friends  of  my  own,  even  if  I  did  n't  choose  to  tell 
her  about  them  ;  but  I  don't  mean  to  look  Molly 
up.  I  'in  going  to  be  a  hermit  just  as  long  as 
it  amuses  me.  That  poor  Frenchman  !  I  wonder 
if  he  thinks  I'm  like  Luella?  ,  It  wouldn't  be 
such  bad  fun  to  pretend  I  was  !  But  no,  Althea, 
no  tricks.  You  're  not  off  on  a  lark.  This  is  a 
business  trip." 

She  had  in  her  purse  an  elaborate  description  of 
the  car  which  would  convey  her  to  Mrs.  Barlow's 
boarding-house,  but  after  standing  on  the  sidewalk 
in  front  of  the  Boston  and  Albany  Station  and 
watching  the  cars  go  by  until  her  brain  reeled 
and  her  arm  ached  with  the  load  of  her  heavy 
bag,  her  patience  evaporated  and  she  decided  to 
take  a  cab. 

As  she  approached  the  vehicle,  a  man  darted 
out  from  a  side  entrance  to  the  station  and  hur 
ried  toward  the  same  conveyance,  so  that  at  the 


IN  .1   <;J:KA'J    i.nvi: 

carriage  they  met.  He  started,  drew  hack,  and 
raised  his  hat.  murmuring  an  apology.  Then 
quickly  perceiving  ihe  \vciglit  of  her  bag. 

••  Allow  me."  he  said,  and  taking  it.  politely 
held  open  (he  carriage  door,  just  as  the  driver  was 
jumping  down  from  his  liox  to  perform  the  same 
office. 

Althea  thanked  the  stranger  with  a  characteris 
tic  little  off-hand  nod.  ••  Tell  me  what  I  ought  It- 
pa  v  him.  will  von'/  she  asked. 

••  It  depends  on  where  vou  arc  going."  replied 
the  man. 

Althea  looked  younger  than  her  twenty-one 
years,  and  the  heavy  l>ag  had  paled  her  cheeks. 

••  I  have  the  address  right  here,  she  said,  open 
ing  her  purse. 

Her  face  grew  blank  as  she  searched  from  com 
partment  to  compartment  in  vain. 

"  Why,  what  an  idea  !  I  had  it.  I  'in  sure  1 
had  it  when  I  started.  Why"  the  girl  became 
suddenly  conscious  that  she  was  detaining  a  stranger 
in  her  service  as  porter.  u  Oh,  excuse  me  !  Please 
put  down  that  grip.  Thank  yon.  1  m  sorry  to 
have  troubled  von.  1  shall  have  to  go  and  look 
in  a  directory."  She  stepped  out  of  the  cab.  and 
the  driver's  face  fell.  lie  touched  his  hat  to  the 
young  man.  "  Shall  I  wait  for  you  and  the  lady, 
sir.  or  shall  I  drive  you  over  to  the  drug-store  for 
the  directory '/  " 

The    stranger    was    still   holding    Althea's  ba<r. 


MI fiiS    GAYL01W  19 

"  That   will  be  the  best   way,  I   think  ?  "   he  sug 
gested  to  the  g'ii'l. 

"  Yes,  so  it  will.  That  grip  's  awfully  heavy. 
\  '11  never  put  books  in  it  again.  Just  set  it 
inside,  please.  I'm  ever  so  much  obliged.'' 

The  young  man  hesitated.  "  I  think  1  had  bet 
ter  help  you  look  up  your  destination,  if  you  are  a 
stranger  in  Boston."' 

'•  AVhy,  that  would  be  an  imposition !  "  said 
Althea  ;  but  the  cab-driver  did  n't  think  so.  lie 
closed  the  door  with  alacrity  upon  his  two  fares 
and  sprang  to  his  place. 

"  Damsels  in  distress  ought  to  have  gone   out 
of  fashion.''   continued    Althea.      *•  (iirl  bachelors 
should    be    able    to    look    out    for    themselves.      I 
never  shall  understand  how  I  mislaid  that  card  — 
the  most  important  thing  of  all  !  " 

The  cab  drew  up  before  the  neighboring  drug 
store.  '•  There  is  probably  no  need  for  you  to  get 
oiit,"  said  her  escort,  u  if  you  will  tell  me  as  much 
as  you  remember  of  the  address." 

"  Why,  it 's  a  Mrs.  Barlow  who  keeps  a  board 
ing-house,"  said  Miss  Gay  lord  helplessly.  "  I 
may  have  to  drive  around  all  day !  Did  you  ever 
hear  of  anything  so  absurd  ?  " 

Her  friend  in  need  was  standing  on  the  side 
walk,  his  hand  resting  on  the  open  cab  door. 
Althea' s  quick  observant  glance  had  already  pro 
nounced  him  good  style,  and  she  would  consider 
the  adventure  great  fun  when  it  was  all  over.  A 
curious  look  came  into  his  eyes. 


20 

••  Would  you  know  the  name  of  the  street  if 
you  heard  it  '!  " 

••  Perhaps,"  doulil  t'tillv. 

"•  Was  il    Newburv  St  reet  ?  '' 

••  That  "s  'it  ,'  "  Althea's  cheeks  Hushed  in  her 
relief  as  .she  put  up  her  gloved  liand  in  a  (jiiick 
gesture. 

She  looked  to  see  her  companion  hurrv  off  to 
the  directory.  Instead,  he  leaned  toward  the 
driver  and  said  something'  inaudiMe  to  her.  Then, 
before  she  could  divine  his  intention,  he  stepped 
hack  into  the  cal>.  slammed  the  door,  and  tlie\ 
stalled  oft'  at  a  rattling  pace. 

'•What  does  this  mean?"  exclaimed  the  girl, 
dismayed. 

••  I  know  \\here  the  place  is."  replied  her  com 
panion. 

*•  But  why  are  you  coming1  too?  " 

-•  Because  it  is  my  duty.  was  the  response. 
accompanied  by  an  amused  smile  which  was  far 
from  reassuring. 

All  sorts  of  vague  terrors  raced  through  Althea  s 
brain.  All  the  grim  stories  of  tragedies  in  the 
great  cities,  all  the  hints  of  pitfalls  that  await 
voung  girls,  took  the  strength  from  her  limbs. 
The  clean-shaven  lace  she  had  thought  so  trust 
worthy  took  a  sinister  aspect  iu  her  eyes.  Her 
heart  beat  in  her  throat. 

t-  If  yon  are  a  gentleman,  you  will  stop  this 
<'iib  !  "  she  said  breathlessly. 


MISS    GAY  LORD  21 

Immediately  her  escort  put  his  head  out  the 
window  and  gave  an  order.  The  cab  drew  up  by 
the  sidewalk. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  the  g'irl,  in  surprise  and 
relief.  '•  Now  leave  me."1 

"  But  I  want  to  go  to  Mrs.  Barlow's  too.  It 
will  save  a  lot  of  time  for  me.  I  gave  up  the  cab 
to  you  ;  you  might  be  generous/' 

Her  hand  sought  the  carriage-door,  and  her 
escort  saw  it  tremble.  His  manner  suddenly 
changed.  He  lifted  his  hat  courteously.  "Par 
don  me.  Miss  (-raylord.  I  didn't  mean  to  startle 
you.  I  live  at  Mrs.  Barlow's,  and  you  are  ex 
pected.'' 

Althea  regarded  him  wide-eyed  and  bit  her  lip. 
She  made  an  effort  to  regain  her  sang-froid. 

"  Dear  me !  "  she  said  at  last.  "  I  wonder  if 
you  're  the  Frenchman  ?  " 

"  I  am  Willard  French,  at  your  service." 

"  At  my  service  ?  So  I  've  understood.  So 
you  were  just  too  late  to  catch  your  train  out  of 
town.  Poor  man !" 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Why,  of  course  I  expected  you  would  go, 
after  Miss  Beebe  told  you  her  plans  for  making 
home  happy  for  you." 

"  Not  at  all,"  returned  French  coolly.  "  I  am 
living  up  to  all  the  requirements.  I  met  you  at 
the  station,  did  n't  I  ?  " 

"  I  shall  never  like  you,"  remarked  Althea. 


"That  grieves  me:  l»ut  hadn't  we  better  let 
tins  man  L;'<>  on  '/ 

••  \\  hv.  ot  course!  '1  hei'e  is  no  sen>e  in  stav 
ing  here  all  diiv !  ^  on  Frightened  me  nearlv  to 
death.  Do  von  know  it  7  "  she  added,  \\hen  they 
were  once  more  under  \va\'. 

••  I  apolo^'i/.e  humbly.  I  pon  my  word.  1  do. 
"\  our  baLi'  is  reven^in^  vou.  It  is  Iviiu;  on  mv 
toot.  Do  von  always  read  ^neh  heavy  book's.  M!>s 
( ia\  lord  7 

lie  stooped  and   removed  the  offending  satchel. 

••The  heaviest  one  in  there  is  a  harmony  book. 
1  in  ^oiiiii1  to  study  harmony.  Are  von  musi 
cal  ?  " 

••  Very." 

••  I  m  so  idad  !  Do  von  plav  or  snie;.  or 
Itoth  ?  " 

••  No.  I  don  1  >inu' :  but  I  used  to  piav  a  little 
on  the  jews-harp.  said  French  modestly. 

*••  \\  ell.  that  "s  better  than  the  other  kind  of  a 
harp,  /think.'  rejoined  Althea  coolly.  "  I  don  t 
see  any  sense  in  the  harp.  Kind  ot  a  halt-baked 
tiling  anv\vav.  Always  looks  to  me  like  a  urand 
piano  with  its  clothes  off.  and  sounds  like  one. 

••  Miss  (iavlord  !       \\  here  is  your  poetry'/ 

••  Oh.  I  m  about  as  poetical  as  you  are  musical, 
1  i^'uess.  \\  hv  did  yon  say  vou  were  musical  '/ 

"  Because  I  must  ^et  back  into  your  ^'ood  graces 
somehow,  after  making  you  believe  that  I  was 
abdnctliiii'  you. 


JfISS    GAY  LORD  23 

"  First  impressions  are  strong,"  admitted  Althea. 
"Do  you  go  to  the  Symphony  Concerts?" 

French  hesitated  before  replying.  lie  might 
be  expected  to  sacrifice  an  evening  every  week  to 
escorting  this  feminine-looking,  brusque,  blunt 
paradox  of  a  girl.  "  Sometimes,"  he  replied  cau 
tiously. 

'•  Oh.  cheer  up  !  ''  remarked  Althea,  her  serious 
countenance  breaking  into  a  smile.  u  My  tickets 
are  for  the  matinees." 

'•Miss  Gay  lord  !  "  protested  French,  coloring. 

"  Don't  cheat  yourself.''  remarked  the  girl  non 
chalantly.  "  I  'in  always  able  to  see  through  a 
millstone,  whether  it  has  a  hole  in  it  or  not,  and 
that  OIK;  was  dead  easy.  However,"  she  gazed 
portentously  at  French,  and  spoke  with  impres 
sive  slowness,  "  in  case  of  illness,  as  Miss  Beebe 
informed  you,  you  will  be  expected  to  hustle." 

"  She  did  n't  put  it  that  way,  exactly." 

'•  I  suppose  you,  are  n't  afraid  of  slang,  are 
you  ? "  Miss  Gaylord's  tone  changed  to  one  of 
curiosity.  "  I  know  that  east  of  the  Alleghenies  it 
is  against  the  law  for  women,  children,  and  idiots 
to  hear  slang,  and  I  've  swallowed  so  much  since 
I  came  to  Springdale  that  unless  I  am  allowed  to 
work  some  of  it  off,  there  's  no  telling  but  you 
will  be  called  up  in  the  night,  though  I  'm  never 
ill  in  Colorado,  at  home  —  in  God's  country." 
The  girl  suddenly  turned  her  head  aside.  French 
felt  sympathy  for  her  probable  homesickness. 


••  I  hope  \<>u  wont  lie,  here.  lie  remarked 
rat  her  hunt']  v. 

••  Nat  urallv  von  do.  she  answered  in  her  n-nal 
tone.  "Thai  s  one  tiling  I  decided  vou  would  lie 
<>X)O(1  for.  though,  as  soon  as  I  heard  of  von.  I 
thought  von  would  make  a  ;_^ood  satet v-valve  \\hen 
I  found  invseii  drowning  in  Itlne  lilood.  or  trans 
fixed  hy  eye-classes.  Pardon  the  mixed  metaphor. 
\  on  don  t  we;;  r  eye-classes,  do  von?' 

••Sometimes.  French  drew  a  pair  from  an 
inside  pocket  and  put  them  on.  ••  \\  hen  1  wi>h 
1o  intimidate  \  on.  I  shall. 

Miss  ( iavlord  shrilled  her  shoulders.  -Men 
never  intimidate  me.  I)on  t  Hatter  yourself. 

French  smiled,  hut  forbore  trom  reminding  her 
of  the  scene  a  few  minutes  aii'o. 

"Olu  sav  !  she  added  anxiously,  "put  me  on 
to  tin-  ( 'arrnt  ii>.  will  \  on  ''.  " 

\  Ie  raised  his  eyebrows. 

••  Pshaw!  she  ejaculated.  ••  1  leave  it  to  you 
if  it  isn't  better  to  say  it  that  way  ?  Don't  we 
l\uow  that  time  is  jnonev?  Listen  here:  Mr. 
French,  will  von  kindlv  describe  for  me  the  char 
acteristics  of  the  Carruth  tamilv.  that  1  mav  know 
what  to  ex])ect  when  I  meet  them,  and  ma \  govern 
niv  behavior  accordinglv?  '  Miss  (iavlord  v;ave 
a  C'^l*  °''  exhaustion  and  leaned  back  in  a  corner 
of  t  he  cab. 

l-  I  ] »rel'er  that  putting  from  your  sweet  lips. 
fail-  lad\." 


MISS    GAY  LORD  2o 

"  Gramercy,  Sire.  Go  on,  then.  I  should 
judge  from  Miss  Beebe's  description  that  Mrs. 
Carruth  was  a  cross  between  a  Hindoo  idol  and  a 
Florence  Nightingale,  and  that  Miss  Carruth  was 
in  danger  of  sprouting-  a  pair  of  wings  and  leaving 
an  earth  too  earthy  for  the  touch  of  her  number 
fives." 

"  They  are  the  most  charming  people  I  know," 
said  French  gravely. 

'•  Oh  !      Is  that  what  you  call  a  description  ?  " 

u  But  you  wih1  see  them  so  soon,"  suggested 
French. 

"  Not  unless  they  see  me  first,"  returned  Althea, 
with  conviction.  "  You  must  understand  even  in 
this  short  time  how  we  should  hate  each  other." 

'•  The  Carruths  could  n't  hate;  anybody." 

"  Fishes  !  I  knew  it !  Well,"  with  a  change 
of  tone.  "  I  shan't  have  any  time  for  society, 
— 110  time  at  all.  You  have  n't  an  idea  how  I  'm 
going  to  work." 

"  That 's  the  right  student  spirit,"  remarked 
French  encouragingly.  It  was  a  statement  he 
heard  with  an  unbreathed  sigh  of  relief. 

"  I  'm  going  to  make  Dad  glad  he  knows  me 
when  I  get  back." 

"  Bravo  !  " 

"  And  I  'm  going  to  talk  to  Ma  in  nothing  but 
words  of  four  syllables." 

"  You  can  practice  on  me  any  time." 

"  So  you  see  I  shan't  have  time  to  philander." 


••  Kvidentlv.  ' 

"I  in  lint,  even  in>niii'  In  limit  up  the  people 
here  tluit  !  do  like." 

••  ^  on  ha\'e    friends    here,  then'.'  Freiiel)    told 

himself  that    lii>   prospect-  were   brighten  ill  ti'. 

••  ^  es.  one  at  lea-t.  1  here  \\a-  a  Boston  la.lv 
I  met  at  ( 'olorado  Springs.  I  tell  vou.  she  uas  a 
corker!  No  eve-classes  about  her.  \\ell.  she 
was  really  a  New  York  u'irl.  but  her  husband  's  a 
Boston  iii;!ii.  I  don  t  think  she  liked  him  aii\  bet- 
ter  tor  that,  either.  Hie  \vas  awtullv  nice  to  inc. 
Mrs.  Darling  \\as  her  name.  Mollv  Darling',  we 
all  eallcil  her.  I  think  she  M  like  to  see  me." 

French  bit  the  end  oi  hi-  tnn^ur  in  his  ^uddcn 
determination  iml  to  disclose  hi>  acipiaintance 
\\itli  the  vivacious  Moil\  :  and  altlionuh  Ins  sec 
ond  thought  was  one  ot  amusement  al  lh.'  unard- 
ianship  implied  hv  this  rcscr\  al  ion.  he  did  not 
chanii'c  hi>  mind. 

The  cab  drew  up  before  a  house  in  a  stone 
block. 

••  Here  we  are."  he  remarked. 

'"•Mrs.  Harlow  '11  be  frightened.  She'll  think 
you're  brin^'iu^'  homo  your  bride,  said  Altliea.  in 
lier  nonchalant  drawl. 

••  M\  bride  shan  t  pack  anv  such  ba^  a->  tin-  for 
me  to  carry."  re])licd  I'Vc-nch.  as  he  helped  her 
out. 

'*  See    how    wise          am    not     to    marry     vou  ? 
I'eturned  Miss  (iavlord  calml\. 


CHAPTER  III 

THE    CAKRUTIIS 

"WOMEN  were  always  aware  of  Burton  Vandyke 
if  he  was  in  the  room  with  them,  and  it  had  piqued 
Mrs.  Darling  to  feel  that  on  the  two  occasions  of 
their  meeting  he  had  been  only  half  aware  of  her. 
So,  as  even  on  a  cursory  view  it  was  evident 
that  he  would  he  a  creditable  addition  to  her  train, 
she  asked  him  to  Sunday  afternoon  tea.  If  the 
young1  lawyer  from  Philadelphia  did  not  admire 
her  at  the  tea-table,  those  poetical  eyes  of  his  belied 
him.  and  his  density  would  be  scarcely  worth 
enlightening. 

She  sat  opposite  him  to-day  near  the  open  fire 
in  her  charming  apartment,  in  a  violet  gown  deco 
rated  with  gold  that  matched  her  hair,  and  drank 
from  a  violet  cup  with  gold  bands,  looking  at  him 
as  she  talked,  to  see  if  his  appreciation  of  sympho 
nies  in  color  was  sufficient  to  repay  her  for  arran 
ging  them. 

Vandyke  was  very  comfortable.  The  room  was 
not  hot,  and  the  tea  was.  lie  enjoyed  the  picture 
presented  by  his  pretty  hostess,  and  he  wondered 
vaguely  why  French  had  chuckled  over  the  fact  of 
his  invitation.  No  doubt  Mrs.  Darling  was  much 


admired;  Imt  their  \v;is  ;i  Mi-.  Darling.  Van- 
dvke.  iu  his  Kvsteiuatic  fashion,  had  taken  menial 
uoles  concerning  the  new  friends  he  was  making, 
and  lie  renienil >ered  1  Ins. 

••  1  have  not  vet  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
your  husband,  he  remarked. 

••No.  replied  Ins  hostess.  "The  pleasure  of 
meeting  Mr.  Darling  in  Boston  is  a  very  spasmodic 
one.  He  has  to  travel  a  great  deal.  lo-dav.  I 
believe,  he  is  in  your  eitv. 

\  andyke  sighed.       ••  I  envv  him." 

"  \\  hat  an  nngallant  s])eeeh  !  said  ln^  hostess. 
smiling  archly.  "  \\  hat  a  >tupid  !  "  she  wasthink- 
mg.  "Let  me  render  good  for  evil  in  another 
en])  o!  tea.  It  /*  good.  >he  continued,  \vith  a 
prettv  air  of  vanitv.  ••  even  if  we  re  not  in  Phila 
delphia.' 

Her  guest  smiled.    "  It  is  perfect."  he  responded. 

'•Are  von  really  homesick,  Mr.  \  and  vice  7  she 
went  on.  after  he  had  taken  the  iv-filled  cup  :  and 
her  tone  invited  confidence  and  promised  the 
sweetest  sympat  hv. 

••  No.  I  m  onlv  a  >t  ranger  here  with  a  strong 
attachment  for  mv  native  eitv.  —  I  can  L  >av  tor 
my  home.  That  was  broken  up  long  ago. 

••  I>ut  you  have  brothers  and  sisters':'" 

"  Not  a  sister.       I   wish   I   had. 

"Then  there  is  some  one  there  dearer  than  a 
sister,  else  yon  wouldn't  be  sighing  for  the  pro 
vinces  in  the  hub  of  the  universe.  Conic,  con 
fess." 


THE    CARRUTIIS  29 

Vandyke  met  her  direct,  smiling  gaze  with  one 
as  direct,  but  grave.  "  There  are  no  ladies  in 
Philadelphia  who  make  better  tea  than  this,"  he 
said,  then  drank. 

Mrs.  Darling  tossed  her  fluffy  head.  "  You 
evidently  have  not  come  to  the  point  of  needing 
a  confidante,"  she  remarked.  >k  When  you  do,  I 
am  ready.  The  fact  is.  1  m  such  an  experienced 
repository  for  secrets  that  if  it  were  n't  for  my 
shocking  memory  I  should  be  in  danger  of  some 
thing  or  other  on  the  brain.  Why.  even  Marga 
ret  Cairuth  confided  in  me  the  other  day — of 
course  you  have  met  the  CaiTuths." 

'•  No,  not  yet.  I  wish  to  do  so.  Mr.  French 
lias  promised  to  take  me  to  one  of  their  Friday 
evenings." 

"  My  Imsband  is  a  relative  of  the  family,  and 
one  of  Mrs.  Carruth's  ardent  admirers.  He  says 
her  at-homes  are  so  really  homelike  that  they  are 
irresistible.  Mrs.  Carruth's  pose,  you  must  know, 
is  tin1  unconventional." 

u  Yes  ;  I  have  been  told  that  even  the  most  for 
mal  functions  at  her  house  are  relieved  by  a  cer 
tain  informality." 

"  Indeed  they  are  !  Of  course,  Mrs.  Carruth 
can  do  what  lesser  lights  would  not  venture  upon. 
I  was  telling  Willard  French  the  other  night  that 
I  never  go  to  one  of  her  evenings  without  expect 
ing  to  see  her  bring  out  the  darning-basket,  and 
he  said  that  if  he  only  might  put  his  socks  in  it, 


30 

lie  wished  she  would.  That  is  all  you  men  cure 
tor  the  conventionalities  of  life  ! 

Vandyke  nodded  as  he  set  his  teaeii]>on  a  little 
sta'id.  "•  I  o  a  man  conscious  ol  his  own  Mitine>s 
and  inajititiule  tor  society,  all  that  sounds  very 
attractive,  lie  returned. 

••  \\  ell.  he  has  sense  enough  to  know  it.  anv- 
\vay."  thought  Mrs.  Darling.  '•  What  nonsense  !" 
she  said  .lightly. 

"No.  gravely.  "1  seem  to  have  l:een  study 
ing  all  my  life,  and  I  like  'books." 

••And  1  suppose  you  thought  that  in  coininj*  to 
Boston  you  had  found  an  intellectual  heaven  :  and 
here  you  are.  drinking  tea  with  poor  lit;!"  me. 
\\lio  does  n't  know  one  liook  from  another  !  I  he 

hostess  s  merry  lauu'li  made  her  guest  smile. 

••  \\  ho  is  posing  now.  Mrs.  Darling?  Here  is 
one  of  my  Itest  friends,  and  the  ".ues!  took  from 
the  table  a  copy  of  ••  The  Intellectual  Life." 

"  ( )h.  that  is  some  of  my  hnshtind's  propeily 
that  has  st  raved  in  here. 

"•You  would  better  make  it>  acquaintance,  now 
it  has  come.  I  assure  you.  yon  never  entertained 
a  ^uest  who  would  lietter  re|»ay  you." 

••  Iveallv  ?  "  doiditfully.  ••  \\diy.  it  is  only  a  lot 
of  letters!  I  glanced  at  it  while  I  was  waiting 
for  \ou.  Beside,  decidedly.  ••  Boston,  moi'e  than 
any  city  in  the  country.  need>  a  numl)er  oi  i-on- 
seientiously  ignorant  women  to  maintain  some  sort 
of  balance.  Don't  tempt  me.  I  will  give  you  a 


THE    CARRUTHS  31 

feast  of  rarebit  and  flow  of  tea  whenever  you  like, 
but  for  the   other  sort   you  will  have   to  go  to  — 
well,  say  to  the  Carruths'." 

*••  I  fancy  he  will  get  on  with  them  swimmingly," 
she  yawned  to  herself,  after  he  had  taken  his 
departure  ;  then  she  brightened,  for  a  couple  of 
young  men  were  announced,  to  whom  she  gave  an 
enthusiastic  audience  in  the  interests  of  a  cotillion 
which  was  to  be  danced  for  charitv  during  the 

*j 

following  month. 

A  few  days  afterward,  as  Mrs.  Darling,  in  the 
snuggest  of  tailor  gowns,  was  tripping  down  Wash 
ington  Street,  she  was  accosted  and  stopped  by  a 
girl  whom  at  first  she  did  not  recognize. 

"  What  luck  !  "  exclaimed  Althea.  "  If  I  had 
tried  to  find  you  it  would  have  been  like  hunting 
for  a  needle  in  a  haymow,  and  at  first  I  made  up 
my  mind  I  would  n't,  for  I  thought  I  'd  work  bet 
ter  if  I  did  n't  know  anybody  here ;  but  it 's  sort 
of  forlorn,  after  all,  and  a  familiar  face  looks  so 
good.  How  are  you,  Molly,  asthore?" 

••  Why,  it  is  Miss  Gaylord,"  returned  Mrs. 
Darling,  without  enthusiasm.  "  Xo  wonder  I  did 
n't  know  you  at  first,  —  so  far  from  home." 

Her  tone  was  an  antidote  to  cordiality.  Althea 
felt  flung  back  upon  herself  with  a  shock. 

"What  are  you  working  at,  pray?"  went  on 
the  elder  woman. 

"  The  piano,"  replied  the  girl,  with  a  change  of 
manner.  "  I  dare  say  you  've  forgotten  my  ambi- 


tion  to  conic  to  Boston  for  my  music."  The  effu 
sive  promises  which  her  volatile  friend  had  held 
out  in  the  event  of  >uch  a  possihilitv  were  still 
vivid  m  the  vouiiv;  -irl  s  mind,  and  now  returned 
va-uelv  and  annovin^'lv  to  Mrs.  Darling. 

"  Yes.  you  did  spealv  of  it.  Well.  I  -m  -lad 
you  could  carrv  out  vour  plan:  luit  I  m  sure 
you  11  ^'et  tired  of  bein^1  so  fur  irom  home.  \\  hep 
are  you  slaving  ? 

"Oh.   in  a  hoarding-house  up/  near  tin-  library. 
I'eplied  Altliea.  her  careless  tone  covering  a  proudly 
Ix-atin",1  heart. 

"  And  then  I  said  -ood-by  and  left  her."  Miss 
(iavlord  told  Krencli  that  niuht  in  the  parlor  after 
dinner,  where  she  \\as  -ivin-  him  an  account  of 
the  meeting,  --and  she  never  tried  to  detain  me. 
or  asked  me  my  niimher.  or  anything1. 

"JI  m!  grunted  Fi-ench  sympathetically.  I  It- 
saw  liv  Alihea's  expression  that  she  \\as  not  nearly 
thron-h.  and  that  there  was  no  need  tor  him  to 
say  anvt  hin-  as  yet. 

•••And  if  you  knew  the  Avav  that  woman  used  to 
£'o  on  over  me  at  the  Spring's,  and  the  promises 
she  made  if  I  ever  came  to  Boston  !  I  introduced 
her  to  a  lot  of  people,  she  liked,  and  she  made  use 
of  me  and  our  carriage  to  her  heart  s  content. 
Oh!  it  makes  my  blood  boil  to  think  of  it  !  At 
first  this  afternoon  when  she  was  -,o  cool.  I  thought 
she  was  hurt  that  i  hadn't  let  her  know  I  was 
coming!  Althea  -ave  a  hitter  little  !au-h. 


THK    CARRUTHS  33 

"  No,  it  was  just  because  she  did  n't  want  any 
responsibility  of  a  lonely  girl.  "Well,  Ma  '11  be 
glad,  and  so  will  Dad.  They  didn't  like  her 
goings-on  at  all.  I  tell  yon,"  —  Miss  Gaylord 
paused,  and  gave  a  little  solemn,  worldly-wise  wink, 
which  always  amused  French,  even  while  he  wished 
she  would  n't  do  it,  —  '•  that  woman  is  a  terror  ! 
She  liirts  like  everything  !  " 

••  Small  loss,  then,"  said  French.  "  What  did 
you  say  her  name  is  ?  " 

"  Darling  —  Mrs.  Darling." 

"Blonde?" 

"  Yes ;  natural,  she  says.  I  '11  believe  it  to 
accommodate  her." 

"  Mrs.  Darling  is  a  friend  of  mine,"  remarked 
French  quietly. 

'•Oli,  M/// /  "  ejaculated  Althea,  dismayed. 

'•  Xo  harm  done,"  said  French. 

"  There  is  too,  harm,"  returned  Althea  indig 
nantly.  "Did  you  think  she  was  a  terror,  be 
fore  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Miss  Gaylord !  "  protested  the  young 
man. 

"  Well,  perhaps  she  is  n't,  in  Boston.  Any  way, 
I  was  a  jay  to  say  so  much  before  I  knew.  You 
must  n't  think  any  the  less  of  her.  Now,  promise 
me." 

French  gave  the  speaker  a  kind,  ironical  smile. 
"  You  are  afraid  you  have  injured  the  lady  ? 
That  is  nice  of  you." 


'•  Jt  "s  only  deeent  !  "  Hashed  Althea.  ••  I  ou^l"- 
to  have  thought  :  i.iut  it  "s  so  hard  not  to  have 
anybody  to  boil  over  to.  You  must  remember  I 
was  angry.  I  used  to  think  Mrs.  Darling  was 
fine,  and  she1--  .--he  fixed  a  hat  tor  me  OIK-'.  I'm- 
ished  the  girl,  trying  desperately  to  produce  facts 
to  counteract  the  harm  she  mi^ht  have  done. 

••That's  all  right."  said  1'Yeiich  consolingly, 
••  It's  to-morrow  you  dine  at  the  i 'arrutle-.'.  i.- n't 
it  '.'  Well,  don't  speak  ol'  her  there,  for  she  is  a 
connection  of  theirs." 

••  ^  ou  don  t  suppose  I  m  i^oing  (irfrund  talking 
about  lier.  do  you':'"  retorted  the  girl  \\armly: 
then  the  voung  face  became  dejected.  '••  !)<>  vou 
think  Mrs,  Carruth  will  i'eel  it  her  duty  to  ask  me 
there  much  ?  "  she  added. 

-•  I  m  sure  she  11  let  von  d»  as  \<m  like.  I'hat 
is  her  wav. 

"Oh.  I  shall  be  so  vjad  v  hen  it  s  over,  sighed 
Althea.  "If  1  had  seen  them  when  they  came  to 
call,  it  would  n  t  he  quite  so  hard  :  but  the  idea  ot 
going  solemnly  up  to  that  solemn  house,  and  meet 
ing  those  solemn  strangers,  and  eating  their  solemn 
dinner,  and  staving  to  their  solemn  at-home  in  the 
solemn  evening,  almost  Udls  me.  If  you  were  n  t 
such  a  prosy  old  prude,  we-  could  have  a  rarebit 
and  a  rattling  tune  and  some  tun  when  \\e  came 
home:  but  I  know  how  it  will  be.  I  shall  have 
to  creep  solemnly  upstair>  with  a  solemn  good 
night,  and  <i'o  solemnly  to  bed! 


THE  rARitrrjfs  35 


"  But,  Miss  Althea,''  pleaded  French,  "  in  a 
boarding-house  —  no  chaperone,  yon  know." 

"  Of  course  I  know.  You  've  told  me  enough 
times.  Say,  I  feel  just  dreadfully  about  Mrs. 
Darling,"  the  girl  continued,  reverting  to  the  old 
subject.  "  It  makes  me  furious  to  think  I  called 
her  'Molly.'  She  used  to  call  me  'Allie'  and 
make  such  a  fuss  over  me,  and  to-day  you  should 
have  heard  the  stiff  way  she  said  '  Miss  (Jay  lord  '  ! 
Do  you  know  her  husband?  Isn't  he  the  dearest 
man?  He  was  out  at  the  Springs  for  a  few  days, 
and  Mrs.  Darling  had  been  carrying  on  so,  I  sup 
posed  her  husband  must  be  a  kind  of  nobody, 
and  that  perhaps  she  was  desperately  unhappy  ; 
so  when  Mr.  Darling  came,  we  were  all  amazed, 
and  the  minute  I  saw  her  alone  I  said  :  '  Well, 
what's  the  matter  with  //our  husband?  '  She  sort 
of  laughed,  and  I  told  her  she  was  a  big  jay  to 
want  anything  more  than  that." 

French  smiled.  "  Possibly  the  compliment  was 
too  subtle  for  Mrs.  Darling  to  grasp.  Perhaps 
you  turned  from  *  Allie  '  into  4  Miss  Gaylord  ' 
right  then  and  there1." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  She  was  flattered  that  I 
admired  him.  She  went  on  to  tell  how  he  wor 
shiped  her.  and  could  n't  bear  to  have  her  out  of 
his  sight  a  minute,  and  all  the  rest  of  it." 

"  She  's  right,  there,  I  think.  She  has  n't  much 
sense,  —  that's  all  that  is  the  matter  with  Mrs. 
Darling." 


••Oh.  that  /.s  ;ili."  agreed  Althea  eagerly. 
'•  When  I  said  >he  was  a  terror.  I  meant  that  she 
was  vain  and  flighty.  ^  on  understand,  don  t 
yon  ? 

French  assured  her  that  lie  understood.  1  he 
•picture  of  Althca.  honest,  transparent  child  as  he 
was  discovering'  her  to  I/e.  posing  as  the  defender 
of  Molly  Darling,  touched  his  sense  oi  humor. 

The  next  afternoon  found  Miss  (iavlord  in 
an  irre])ro:iclial)le  continue,  with  a  tiii'litly-rolled 
uiuln'clla  in  a  hand  cold  irom  a]>]>reheiiMon,  a]>- 
proacliin^'  the  C'arrutli  mansion. 

To  the  C.'jiri'Uths  h"r  advent  \\a>  one  of  the 
events  in  the  series  of  the  day's  dntie>.  Mother 
and  dauj^'liter  had  her  ticketed  as  one  ot  the  nn- 
nieroiH  individuals  who  had  a  claim  upon  them.  1ml 
up  to  the  hour  of  her  arrival  tliex  had  not  had 
time  to  think  a.liont  her  at  all. 

Nevertheless,  they  always  had  their  data  read\. 
and  as  soon  as  Miss  (iavlord  was  announced. 
Spring  la  le.  Denver,  and  Miss  I»eel>e  succeeded 
the  interests  of  the  reception  they  had  that  day 
^'iven  for  a  strange  pianist  who  was  seeking  a 
foothold  in  the  eit  V. 

Althea.  waiting  in  a  cosy  reception-room  whose 
eal>inet  of  rich  and  strange  enrios  Deemed  to 
menace  her  with  an  air  ot  alien  erudition,  was 
still  cold  of  hands  \\hen  a  ^irl  itiit  little  oldei'  than 
herself  entered  and  came  toward  her  with  a  ^reet- 


THE    CARRUTIIX  Ji 

"  Mother  will  be  here  at  once,  Miss  Gay  lord. 
She  was  called  to  the  telephone  just  before  you  came 
in.  Telephones  are  slave-drivers,  aren't  they?" 

"  Yes,  but  they  are  a  great  convenience,''  re 
plied  Althea,  always  slow  of  speech,  but  now 
determined  to  take  plenty  of  time  for  each  plati 
tude.  "  Pooh  !  Miss  Carruth  is  n't  such  hot 
stuff,"  she  was  saying  to  herself  uneasily,  under 
the  kindly  directness  of  Margaret's  gray  eyes. 

"  I  understand  that  in  the  West  electrical  con 
veniences  are  more  common  and  less  expensive 
than  in  the  East,  —  that  all  the  small  towns  have 
them." 

"  Yes,  they  do." 

"  That  is  quite  different  from  Xew  England, 
you  know.  Ah,  mother  is  released,"  added  Mar 
garet,  as  a  lady  entered  the  room. 

Mrs.  Carruth' s  frank  face,  under  its  smoothly 
parted  hair,  wore  a  little  smile  of  welcome  as 
Althea  rose  to  meet  her. 

"  AYe  were  sorry  not  to  find  you  the  other  day, 
Miss  Gay  lord.  I  wanted  to  make  sure  that  you 
were  comfortable  in  your  new  quarters,  but  now 
you  will  tell  us  all  about  it,  and  we  can  become 
acquainted." 

Althea  went  upstairs  with  them  to  take  off  her 
hat  and  jacket,  and  Mrs.  Carruth  continued  :  "  I 
am  told  that  your  mother  was  a  schoolmate  of 
mine.  It  must  have  been  in  our  childhood,  for  I 
don't  remember  her ;  but  I  think  Spring-dale  folk 


should  CIIIILV  together,  whether  they  lie  birds  of  a 
tea!  her  or  not." 

••  \\  li\  should  I  he  afraid  of  these  people'/" 
thought  Althea  stonily.  "They're  a  u'reat  de;d 
plainer  ;n  their  \vavs  than  Mrs.  Darling'.'' 

Mi--  (iavlord  s  lather  was  a  rich  man.  and  .-he 
\vas  accustomed  t<»  luxuries.  I  here  \\a~-  a  uilter- 
ence  here,  however,  and  the  \\e-tern  i^irl  !iad  eves 
to  perceive  it.  She  resented  while  she  wondered 
at  the  fact  that  these  two  women,  in  the  iine  sim 
plicity  ot  their  house  dress  and  the  refinement  and 
frankness  expressed  in  each  one  of  their  attitudes 
and  words,  should  lie  objects  of  awe  to  her.  \\hiie 
their  home  seemed  as  naturally  their  rich  and 
nulije  setting  a>  if  it  had  ^TONYII  into  liein^  to  suit 
their  need--. 

••  Birds  of  a  feather,  indeed!  Althea  only 
\\ished  >lie  were  a  lurd.  How  qr.icldv  >he  \\onld 
fly  out  oi  this  atmosphere,!  She  called  it  ••]>ro--\". 

"I  low  do  yon  find  it  at  Mrs.  I'mrlou  s?"  asked 
Mrs.  ('arrnth.  when  the  three  were  au'ain  down 
stairs,  silting  around  an  open  lire.  '1  he  lights 
were  turned  low.  The  hostess  perceived  that  a 
little  effort  wonld  lie  required  to  lircak  down  the 
burner  alioiit  thi>  sh\'.  stiff  stranger.  a;:d  this  \\as 
one  of  her  ways  and  means. 

••  It  does  very  well,"  replied   Althea. 

••  I>nt  \o;i  should  lie  reallv  comfortable.  Mr. 
I'reiich  j^'ives  the  house  a  jj'ood  word:  l»ni  a  man  s 
requirenionts  are  different." 


THE    CARRUTIIS  39 

';  Yes,  lie  likes  it.     You  know,  Miss  Bool>y  — 
Oh"    —  Althea's   very  ears   grew   crimson   in  the 
merciful  twilight,  "  I  meant  to  say  Miss  Beebe  — 
truly  " 

Mrs.  Carruth  laughed.  "  That  is  all  right, 
my  dear.  I'm  sure  you  did." 

"  She  has  been  awfullv  kind  to  me,"  exclaimed 
Althea,  '*  and  I  sliall  always  thank  her,  even  if 
she  did  tell  Mr.  French  —  I  don't  know  as  it  's 
worth  speaking  of,  lint  she  told  him  to  take  care 
of  me.  Such  ro —  so  needless,  yon  know,  and  yet 
I  would  n't  hurt  her  feelings  for  anything  in  this 
world  !  " 

'•  I  understand,"  said  Mrs.  Carruth  kindly. 
"  I  think  Miss  Beebe  imagines  that  Mr.  French  is 
still  a  boy.  I  'm  sure  you  find  him  a  kind  friend, 
though." 

"•  Oh,  yes,"  returned  Althea  virtuously,  sure 
here  of  her  ground.  *•"  lie  's  awfully  particular." 

'•  Particular  in  what  way  ?  " 

^  Oh,  talks  to  me  so  formally  at  the  table,  and 
won't  come  into  my  room,  and  everything  like  that. 
You  know  I  have  a  folding-bed  and  my  piano, 
and  some  pictures  around,  and  it 's  a  very  decent 
sitting-room ;  and  yet  Mr.  French  won't  come 
in  there  and  sit  down.  I  tell  him  he  must  read 
columns  of  advice  to  young  girls  in  ladies'  jour 
nals."  Here  the  speaker  noted  that  Margaret 
Carruth,  sitting  on  her  mother's  other  side,  changed 
the  position  of  her  hand-screen.  A  hot  suspicion 


Hashed  tliroiiLp,h  Althea.  Supposing  this  cool,  high 
bred  e;:rl  \vith  tin1  i  !;< >!>-dn  i  id  eyes  were  iaueJmiL:'. 
not  wit ii.  luit  at  her  ! 

Mr>.  CaiTiith  s])okc  at  oner:  "Does  it  happen 
ihat  von  h.ave  no  friends  in  P>oston  except,  our 
selves?" 

Miss  (iavlord's  honestv  made  her  hah  a  sec 
ond,  even  in  her  ein!)arrassinen1  :  in;'  de  "idin;^ 
i!i:it  Mrs.  Darling'  could  not  in  anv  sense  lie  con 
sidered  a  friend.  -die  replied  m  tiie  negative. 

••  ^  on  are  here  ior  the  sake  o|  studying  iiie 
piano,  are  nt  von?  a^ked  Margaret,  and  her 
pleasant  voice  had  no  hint  ot  a.  l.iii^li.  ••  \\  ho  is 
vonr  teaehei1  '.' 

Altiiea  mentioned  a  \vell-kno\vn  name,  and   Mar- 


Avill  enjov  him.  1  lia\c  studied  \\ith  him.  Me  is 
a  pupil  of  Ivaif." 

••  \\  iio  is  that  '/  I)ecansc  1  ']]  -n  to  him  if  he's 
anv  better. 

••  Kail'  is  in    r>er!m. 

-Oh.  yes."  Althea  h'aned  l.aek  a^ain.  -  If  I 
do  well  here.  I  think  Da  my  father  will  let  me 
p)  o\ 'el1  t  here  later. 

••  ^  on  are  vei'V  nr,i<-li  interested,  then  '.' 

••  Yes."  returned  Mis-.  (  ia\  mrd.  not  trusting  her 
nnridv  tonmie  to  venture  lir\'oiiil  the  nionosvllaltle 
on  a  snliject  ii]>on  which  her  ieeliiij^'s  mi^ht  carry 
her  away. 

Ai'ler   dinner    she   asked     Margaret    to    play   to 


THE    CAHRL'TIIS  41 

her ;  but  despite  the  beauty  of  music  and  perform 
ance,  she  did  not  lose  that  peculiar  combination 
of  constraint  and  oppression  commonly  supposed 
to  compose  the  sensations  of  a  fish  out  of  water. 

Mrs.  Carruth  had  some  needlework  in  her 
hand  by  a  lamp-lit  table,  when  the  guests  of  the 
evening1  began  to  drop  in.  At  first  the  comers 
were  old  friends,  and  they  clustered  about  her  in 
social  fashion,  while  the  girls  remained  in  the 
music-room,  where  Margaret  observed  that  Althea's 
impassive  face;  seemed  at  last  to  drop  its  mask  and 
gain  expression  for  the  first  time. 

That  day  Burton  Vandyke  had  received  a  note 
from  Mrs.  Darling  suggesting  that  as  she  was 
going  to  the  Carruths'  that  evening,  and  as  AVil- 
lard  French  was  a  will-o'-the-wisp  whom  no  sane 
person  would  be  beguiled  into  counting  upon, 
wouldn't  Mr.  Vandyke  like  to  accompany  her, 
etc.,  etc. 

Mr.  Vandyke  would  and  did,  and  as  Margaret 
Carruth  came  to  the  close  of  Chopin's  rippling 
Fantasie  Impromptu,  both  girls  recognized  a  sweet 
shrill  voice  talking  in  the  next  room. 

"  Cousin  Emeline,  I  have  brought  you  a  willing 
captive,"  it  said.  "•  I  can't  do  anything  with  him, 
and  you  will  understand  it  when  I  tell  you  that  he 
likes  ioo/'.s-  /  " 

Both  girls  could  picture  the  bewitching  airs 
which  accompanied  this  speech,  though  neither 
suspected  the  other's  thoughts.  Althea's  face 


hardened  a^ain.  ;uul  the  warmth  in  Margaret  s 
died  out. 

A  man'.-  voice  followed  :  *•  I  like  a  great  mam' 
other  things  too,  it  said:  and  in  a  minute  Mrs. 
C'arruth  came  into  the  niusic-rooui.  accompanied 
hy  a  1all  stranger  in  \vliose  eves  was  a  kindlv. 
ea^er  look  ot  expectancy,  as  ot  one  who  iinds  him 
self  crossing1  the  threshold  of  an  anticipated  plea 
sure. 

••  ]\Iargaret.  1  want  to  introduce  Mr,  Vand\ke  to 
von.  Mv  daughter.  Mr.  \andvke:  and  our  friend. 
Miss  (iaylord,  \vlio  is  studying  inu--ic  here. 

•'  It  was  von  I  heard  playing,  then,  he  -aid  to 
Althea.  regarding  her  with  a  concent  rat  i<  .n  oi  inter 
est  whose  life  she  cut  short. 

"•  Nd  indec-d  !       It  was  Mix-,  ('ariiit'li. 

He  al)Tii])tly  turned  to  Margaret.  "•  Must  you 
sto])?  for  she  was  leaving  the  piano. 

••  No  indeed  !  Don  t  stop.  tan1,  pale  Margaret  ! 
How  do  yon  do  this  evening v  Mrs.  Darling 
glided  forward  and  kissed  Aiix-  Carrnth  s  cheek. 
••My  cousin  pla\s  divinely.  Mr.  Vandyke.  I 
can't  appreciate  half  the  things  she  does.  Imt  then. 
von  know  my  conscientious  scruples  against  learn 
ing-  Why.  Miss  (iaylord  !" 

The  speaker  suddenly  discovered  Althea.  who 
had  lieen  accidentally  screened  from  her  l,>v  \  an- 
dvke's  broad  shoulder,  and  she  stopped  stock-still 
in  gemtine  amazement.  .Her  thoughts  flew  svuttly 
enough,  however. 


THE    CARRUT1IS  43 

To  be  or  not  to  be  as  cool  as  she  had  been  yes 
terday  —  that  was  the  question. 

"You  know  Miss  Gaylord?"  said  Margaret, 
with  surprise  ;  then  turning  toward  Althea  with 
a  smile  :  "  I  understood  you  to  say  you  had  no 
friends  in  Boston." 

"  Yes,  that 's  what  I  said,"  drawled  the  girl. 
"  I  met  Mrs.  Darling  last  year  during  her  Western 
trip,  and  I  remember  her  perfectly  ;  but  I  had  no 
idea  her  memory  would  be  so  good." 

There  was  a  sudden  sound  of  coughing  at  the 
door  of  the  music-room.  Willard  French  had 
arrived  in  time  to  see  this  meeting,  and  he  retreated 
momentarily. 

Althea  recognized  and  followed  him  to  a  remote 
quiet  corner  of  the  hall. 

"Bravo!"  said  French.  "It's  a  fine  com 
mand  of  language  you  have,  Miss  Gaylord." 

She  looked  up  at  him.  "  I  've  been,  talking 
that  way  three  and  one-half  hours,"  she  declared, 
with  impressive  slowness.  "  I  'in  nearly  dead!  " 

"Do  you  mean  to  come  often?"  inquired 
French,  highly  entertained. 

She  closed  one  eye  with  the  utmost  gravity. 
"Not  011  your  tintype  !  "  she  returned. 


CHAPTER    IV 

!\     TilK     .Ml  s!<  -i;<  )(  ).M 

MRS.  DAKLINU  looked  after  Althea  as  .-lie  left 
the  room,  a  good  deal  taken  aliack  l»v  the  id'Ts 
'promptness  in  liecomhiL;'  mistress  of  the  situation. 
Then  she  turned  to  Margaret. 

"  ^  our  mother  s  fondness  for  picking  r,])  •.  urio-> 
leads  her  to  great  lengths,  it  seems  to  me.  I  low 
does  this  wild  and  woolly  specimen  happen  to  he 
here  ?  " 

Miss  Carnith  flushed.  "Miss  (lavlord  i-  our 
cU'ne>t.  she  returned,  in  a  simple  and  imi'cl inking1 
manner  whicli  \  andvke  noted. 

••So  I  see;  hut  how  does  it  happen?"  pursued 
Mrs.  Darling1,  with  a  frank  impertinence  ail  her 
own. 

"  She  comes,  introduced   to  us  hy  our  old  friend, 

Mi»  IWW 

1  he  other  lailii'hed.  ••  \\  hat  an  amusing1  com 
bination  !  Althea  (Javlord  and  the  fair  Liiel'a  ! 
"Well,  it  s  very  astonishing  to  find  the  girl  here. 
She  and  her  people  v.'ere  very  civil  to  me  at  (  -Do 
rado  Springs."  added  the  speaker  carelessly.  ••  I 
must  talk  with  her  later  on. 

Meantime  Willard  French  had  introduced  Althea 


IN    THE    MUSIC- ROOM  45 

to  a  number  of  liis  acquaintances,  and  in  spite  of 
her  despairing1  glances  had  left  her  tete-a-tete  with 
a  woman  physician  who  wore  spectacles. 

He  found  Mrs.  Carruth  disengaged  for  a 
moment.  "  What  is  your  verdict  011  Miss  Beebe's 
protegee?  "  he  asked. 

The  hostess  regarded  him  thoughtfully. 

'•  Poor  little  thing !  "  she  said  compassionately. 

''Why?"  asked  the  young  man,  with  genuine 
curiosity. 

••  I  believe  she  is  homesick  without  being  willing 
to  confess  it.  Don't  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  1  hadn't  perceived  it.'' 

"  She  could  n't  be  so  shy  and  stiff  and  given  to 
monosyllables  otherwise.  She  seems  a  very  self- 
contained,  reserved  girl." 

French  nodded.  ''  And  you  pity  her  because 
you  think  she  is  uninteresting  ?  I  see." 

"  I  pity  you  too,  a  little,"  said  Mrs.  Carruth, 
with  a  significant  smile. 

'*  Because  I  am  uninteresting?"  French  reflected 
the  smile. 

"  Of  course  I  don't  know  how  much  responsibil 
ity  you  feel  in  the  matter,"  added  his  hostess. 

u  It  does  n't  weigh  on  me.  Miss  Gaylord  is 
great  fun." 

"  Great  fun  !  "  repeated  Mrs.  Carruth.  "  Why, 
Willard !  Your  taste  must  be  changing  !  " 

He  laughed  at  the  blankness  of  surprise  in  her 
face.  "  You  don't  know  her  yet,"  he  remarked. 


••  Evidently  -—  for  I  know  YOU.  \\  dl.  I  mii-t 
reconstruct  mv  lir-t  nnpivs-.ion.  Mrs.  (';irr;,ih 
turned  to  where  Althea.  unadantable,  bore.!,  h-  !>>- 


^'  Stai  ISl  iCS  concern 
ing  a  stone  which,  tunning  ;it  sonic  period  l'>.  ( '.. 
liad  come  down  through  the  eentui'ies  to  rest  in 
A!  rs.  ( 'arrnt  li  s  cabinet . 

French  followed    her  glance   and    laughed  auain. 

-  a  chuckle  of  such  hearty  appreciation  that   Mr--, 
('arrutli     regarded     linn,    mystiiied.        ••  \  on    evi 
dently  know    sonic    yerv  u'ood    joke.    \\  illard."    she 
said    at    last.      ••  It'    \oii    arc  n  t    rca«l\    to    sluirc    it 
yet,  tdl  ineit  you  know  anything  alioul  thai   hei'oie- 
lookinu'  creature  Mrs.   Pai'liiiL;'  ha>  hroiiu'ht   us. 

••  \  andyke  ''.  \  cs.  I  meant  to  hrini;'  him  ni\- 
selt'  to-ni^lit.  1'ii!  Mrs.  Darling  u'ot  ahead  of  me. 
lie  has  letter.--  of  nit  rod  net  ion  Irom  Philadelphia. 
and  has  settled  here.  He  is  a  lawyer,  and  has  a 
first-rate  position  with  a  corporation,  and  is  p>ini;- 
to  make'  a  success  of  it.  In  the  little  I  ve  seen  ot 
him  he  seems  to  want  to  lie  sociable,  without 
exactly  knowing  how.  I  )ocs  n't  smoke,  lor  instance 

-  mistake   mindter  one.      Grave,    sort    ot    a    chap, 
and  watches  people  closely,  as  it    he  were  studying 
a  lesson.      •  Is  that    the    way    you  do  it  '.'     he  seems 
to    he    saving.      I     fancy     he     hasn't    pmc    about 
much.       \\'ell.    he    has    fallen    into    the    hands    oi 
somebody  who  will  show  him  the  ropes. 

.Mrs.    t'arruth    returned    the     humorous    "lance 


IX    THE    MUSIC- ROOM  47. 

thoughtfully.  One  saw  tlie  power  of  a  leader  in 
her  face  when  she  looked  thus. 

"•  If  his  appearance  does  ii't  helie  him,  he  will 
not  lie  easily  influenced,"  she  remarked. 

"•  Except  a  lorn;1  lines  where  he  wishes  to  be 
led,"  added  French. 

"  You  say  he  is  really  unsophisticated  in  super 
ficial  things  ?  " 

u  Oh  well,  he  knows  which  fork  to  use  ;  but  one 
can  see  he  has  taken  himself  seriously  always,  and 
kept  his  brain  busy.  lie  doesn't  dance,  for 
instance." 

*•  Then  Mrs.  Darling  will  not  have  much  use 
for  him,"  suggested  Mrs.  Carruth. 

"  Humph !  Have  you  happened  to  notice  his 
eyes,  or  his  walk,  or  the  set  of  his  head  on  his 
shoulders?  Mrs.  Darling  is  a  connoisseur." 

u  Let  us  not  leave  him  to  her,  then,  TVillard  — • 
and  —  we  mustn't  talk  about  her,"  said  Mrs.  Car- 
ruth  hastily. 

French  smiled  reminiseently.  "  Miss  Gaylord 
knew  Mrs.  Darling  in  the  West,  and  happening 
to  meet  her  on  the  street  here  yesterday,  the  latter 
snubbed  her,  and  just  a  minute  ago  your  shy  little 
friend  got  back  at  her  in  great  shape  there  in  the 
music-room." 

Mrs.  Carruth  looked  surprised,  then  nodded. 
"It  is  just  as  well.  It  would  n't  be  good  for 
any  girl  who  is  studying  to  be  sucked  into  the 
Vortex  of  Molly's  gay  life.  Willard,"  she  paused, 


regard  hi",   iinn   scrutini/hiLi'ly,   and    speaking   in    ;i 
clian"'c(l    tone.     "  how     docs     Margaret     look     to 

i>  O 

you  7 

-•  I  have  n't  spoken  to  hcf  yet  to-nig'ht.  V\  hy  ? 
She  1-as  u*t  been  ill.  has  she?" 

»  No.  not   ill." 

••  \\  hv.    \vhat    do    von    mean.    .Mrs.    Carruth  ? 
asked    tiie    yonii;.1'   man.    \\ith    concern.      -Magnet 
has  aluavs  lieeii    mv  ideal    of    jierh-ct    physical  '.>al- 
ance." 

••  1  !o\v  much  oi'  ii  is  self-control  that  i>  the 
(juestion?  \n\\  kno\v  \vhal  she  has  always  wished. 
.A  mistaken,  mistaken  ideal.  I  am  sure  oi  it.  it 
isn't  all  selfishness  in  me  1o  refuse.  No  vonn;^ 
iH'irl  ean  appreciate  the  exigencies,  the  sacrifices, 
the  lii'e  entails:  \'et  mv  Ii!'"  i--  so  hound  ui>  in 
Margaret  s  1  torture  myself  at  tiine^  with  (jties- 
tions  -  and  when  1  see  her  le»  ami  less  inclined 
io  sin  Li'.  1  1ear  it  mav  mean  a  deep  concealed  senti 
ment  which  miu'lit  -  (  )h.  I  am  foolish  aiioui  if. 
I  hope.  1  think  her  \ouiiLi'  friends  can  jud^e 
Letter  than  I  it'  she  is  in  a  natural,  happy  stat'1 
Forget  this.  \\"illard." 

The  s\\ilt.  agitated  speech  came  to  an  end.  and 
troubled  lines  e;ave  tlie  frank  face  a  careworn 
look  that  suddenly  a^'ii  it.  French  tried  to  con 
ceal  his  surprise  at  the  unusual  outbreak. 

••I  assure  you.  1  have  not  noticed  anything. 
Mrs.  ('arruth.  Magnet  is  generally  considered 
to  be  one  of  the  IneUii'st.  happiest  ^'ii'ls  in  town.  ' 


IX    Till-:    MUX1C-ROOM  49 

"  Oh,  that  is  what  I  want  her  to  be  !  Tell  me 
if  you  ever  remark  anything'  which  looks  other 
wise.  Thank  you,  AVillard."  She  pressed  his 
hand  suddenly  and  hurried  away  to  greet  a  guest 
who  had  just  entered. 

AVilhml  met  Althea's  eyes.  Her  stony  glance 
turned  to  one  of  appeal.  He  lounged  up  to  the 
group  of  which  she  was  one,  and  after  a  few  words 
succeeded  in  disengaging  her  from  the  toils. 

"•  A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed,''  she  said, 
as  they  moved  away.  kt  I  've  been  associating  with 
Moses  so  long1  that  to  get  with  a  man  a  little 
younger  makes  me  feel  less  like  a  mummy.  How 
soon  are  we  going  home  ?  '' 

'"  Oh,  not  for  a  long  time,"  returned  French 
placidly.  "  Let  us  see  what  is  going  on  in  the 
music-room/' 

"  I  don't  want  to  go  near  Mrs.  Darling." 

"•  That  won't  do.  You  have  begun  nobly  with 
her.  Don't  show  the  white  feather  !  " 

•••  The  idea  !  "  Althea  moved  along  beside  him. 
"•  If  you  think  I  am  afraid  of  her  !  " 

"  Very  well,  then.  I  want  to  look  after  my 
friend  Vandyke." 

"My!  Isn't  he  swell!"  observed  Miss  Gay- 
lord. 

"  I  want  to  be  sure  he  is  being  taken  care  of," 
added  French,  "  but  I  hear  Miss  Carruth  playing 
to  him." 

"You  think  you  do,"  retorted  Althea.     "  Wait 


a  minute.  I  want  to  make  a  bet.  \\  hat  'II  von 
bet  Mr.  Vandyke  isn't  sitting  in  that  little  corn  r 
seat  under  the  palms  with  Molly  I ).'.'" 

UA  box  of  candy.  He  isn't  that  kind.  lie- 
side,  he  is  music-mad." 

"Oh.  you  poor  infant!  As  if  he  could  help 
himself!  Don  t  yon  know  her? 

ww  \Yell.  rather."  said  French,  nettled.  -I  sat 
under  the  palms  with  her  mv>e!f  before  yon  were 
born." 

••  (Jo  to  !  "  retorted  Althea. 

••  But  it  was  because  I  wanted  to.  -lu-T  r  mem 
ber  thai." 

k-  I  sn])])ose  •  Remember  that  is  Bostonese  tor 
*  Don't  yon  forget  ir.'  \\ell.  don't  ijnn  forget 
that  chocolates  are  mv  lavonte  candv.  ('oine 
now.  since  seeing;  i>  believing." 

They  ad\ anced  to  the  door  of  the  inii-ic-room. 
.Mavii'aret  was  at  the  piano,  over  which  uas  lean- 
in  i;-  a  man.  Lia/ini;  appreeiat iyely  at  the  s;itisf\  in^ 
lines  of  her  face  and  figure  ;is  th.e  music  rolled 
from  under  her  hand-  without  apparent  effort. 
The  lashes  veiled  her  darkening  eyes,  an  occa 
sional  stress  of  feeling  pressed  closer  her  full. 
curved  lips.  Her  attitude  oi  power  mid  repose 
enchained  the  watcher  :  but  he  \\  as  a  well-knov.  n 
painter  of  the  city,  and  not  \  andyke. 

Miss  (Javlord  triumphantly  followed  Frenc!f> 
reluctant  u'axe  t()  the  reinole>t  corner,  \\iiei-e.  palm- 
shaded.  Mrs.  Darling  wielded  her  fan,  her  eves 


/Ar   THE    MUSIC-ROOM  51 

upon  the  young  lawyer,  who,  close  beside  her, 
allowed  his  distrait  glance  to  wander  from  the 
ceiling  to  the  piano.  One  hand  was  in  his  pocket. 
lie  seemed  absorbed. 

"  There  !  "  exclaimed  Althea. 

The  music  ceased.  Margaret's  lashes  lifted,  and 
her  gaze,  full  of  suppressed  lire,  went  toward  the 
cosy  corner.  Vandyke's  dreamy  glance  left  the 
ceiling,  dropped  straight  upon  hers,  and  remained 
fixed,  lie  rose  with  a  sudden  movement. 

"  There !  "  ejaculated  French.  k'  Whom  did  I 
say  she  was  playing  to  ?  '' 

"  The  candy  's  mine.  Where  did  I  say  he  was 
sitting  ?  " 

"  Oh !  you  shall  have  the  candy,"  said  French 
loftily.  Then  he  advanced  to  the  piano.  "  One 
more,  Magnet,  won't  you  ?  "  he  said,  adding  his 
plea  to  that  of  the  others. 

"  Xo  more,"  she  returned  firmly,  her  smile  bril 
liant  from  the  emotion  of  her  music.  She  rose. 
"  There  are  too  many  people  coming  in.  It  would 
be  like  the  vague  irritation  of  an  orchestra  at  a 
reception." 

"  Then  sing,"  pursued  French. 

The  smile  vanished.      She  shook  her  head. 

"  You  know  they  would  be  still  then,  and  want 
to  be,"  he  went  on  urgently.  "  I  have  n't  heard 
you  in  ages." 

The  girl  looked  at  him  with  surprising  gravity. 
"  Will  you  excuse  me,  Willard  ?  " 


'•  AA  I IV.  Ves.  it  vou  re  li'oum1  to  use  that  tone. 
\\  hat  i>  it  '.'  1  l;i\'e  \  on  ;i  e<,:,|  7 

••  No.   lint          !  'in  out   of  the  \VJiy  of  it." 

••  \\'liy.  that  '••  ;il]  \vron<r !  it  "s  a  l;i^  mistake 
you've  making.  Magnet,  a  liiLi1  mistake.  I'iano- 
|)lavinti'  is  line,  all  ver\  \\vll.  oi  course  :  I  nil  t  lie  re  s 
not  iiiiiu'  on  earth,  and  I  i;'iie.>s  noiiiinu1  imieh  U-tter 
in  heaven,  than  the  real  article  in  the  wax  of  a 
.sin^niL;'  voice,  and  \on  have  the  real  tiling.  It  s 
a  eri'iie  to  hide  it  under  a  lui-lte!.  I-  n'r  that  so. 
Vandyke?  " 

••  Indeed,  yes.     responded  the  latter  warmlv. 

••  \  on  j4'i\'e  -o  unicii  more  attention  latel\  to  the 
piano."  FreiH-h  turned  !»avk  to  the  u'n'.  \\'iio  stnod 
tall  and  motionless,  her  ^lain-e  I'al'iii^  even  though 
her  head  was  held  inu'ii.  as  she  rested  one  hand  on 
a  chair-l>nck.  ••  I  dop.  t  understand  it. 

She  smiled  i'amilv.  "•  Must  \'oti  understand 
cvervtliinji'.  ^*^  :I!ard  7 

••  But  this  means  a  lot  to  us  all.  ^  on  need  n't 
expect  it  to  l>e  taken  meeklv  if  von  cut  oil'  that 
supplv.  I  shall  make  mistakes  in  mv  ii^'iires. 
]\Iosl)V  won't  paint  nearlv  as  well 

•-,)n>t   what    I   told  her!"  put   in  the  artist. 

'•Vandyke  would  contrive  to  put  poetry  even 
into  a  law  practice  il  he  heard  you  -in'j,. 

The  hiwver  started  to  add  itr^'encv  to  French  s 
aiiueal  when  a  slight  circumstance  restrained  him. 

~ 

Margaret  was  g'raspin^'  a  fold  of  her  soi;  ^'owu 
\vith  one  hand,  and  he  noticed  that  the  iilmv  stuff 


IX    Till-:    MUSIC-ROOM  53 

in  her  sleeve  was  trembling  as  if  a  breeze  blew  it. 
lie  glanced  quickly  up  to  her  face.  Her  lip  was 
caught  in  her  teeth.  The  expression  was  not  one 
of  light  obstinacy. 

'•  Miss  Carruth,  if  you  really  would  rather  not 
sing  now,"  he  said,  *'  may  I  interrupt  Mr.  French's 
arguments  and  ask  you  to  tell  me  about  this  idol 
in  the  corner  ?  "' 

French  at  once  strode  to  the  side  of  Mrs.  Dar 
ling,  who  was  looking  bored,  and  became  orator 
ical.  k-  This,  my  friends,  the  idol  of  which  Mr. 
Vandyke  speaks,  is  a  most  remarkable  curio.  She 
is  practically  indestructible,  enduring  more  recep 
tions,  calls,  and  balls  to  the  twenty-four  hours 
than  any  other  known  goddess.  Her  worshipers 
are  innumerable,  and  not  one  of  them  would  think 
he  could  lead  a  cotillion  without  her  assistance. 
The  women  adore  her  less  openly,  but  not  one 
dares  to  get  a  bonnet  until  she  sees  what  the  idol 
is  going  to  " 

"Sit  down  here  and  behave  yourself!"  inter 
rupted  Mrs.  Darling,  lazily  smiling,  while  Althea, 
with  a  resentful  air,  dove  behind  the  screen  of 
palms  and  listened  attentively  to  Margaret's  his 
tory  of  the  ingeniously  ugly  god  who  reposed  in 
their  bower. 

But  she  could  not  help  listening  to  scraps  of  the 
talk  between  Mrs.  Darling  and  French,  so  presently 
she  moved  away  to  the  piano,  where  in  looking  over 
music  she  found  an  object  of  real  interest. 


Presently  Mrs.  Darling  took  her  companion  into 
the  next  room.  1  hey  had  no  sooner  ^one  than 
Margaret  paused,  regarding  Vandyke,  who  was 
pulling  his  mustache  abstractedly. 

••  V\  hv  did  \  on  take  the  trouble  to  do  this?" 
.she  asked  abruptly. 

lie  looked  at  her  questioninglv. 

""Why  did  you  stop  Mr.   French?" 

Vandyke  smiled.  "To  ask  von  about  the  idol. 
you  know. 

"  For  which  you  cared  nothing." 

The  man  flushed.  ••  What,  make--  yon  think 
so  ?  1  lave  I  been  rude  ? 

'•  No  :   only  absent-minded  and  hone>i/' 

"  1  am  sTill  under  the  spell  of  your  music. 
Forgive  me. 

"1  have  nothing  to  forgive:  I  have  to  thank 
you:  but  it  was  odd  that  you,  an  utter  stranger, 
should  have  —  have  seen  —  it  makes  you  not  a 
stranger."  Margaret  finished  with  a  brief  <mile. 

"That  is  great  good  fortune  for  me."  returned 
Vandyke  with  sincerity.  "  Perhaps  I  should  ask 
your  pardon  for  seeing  that  von  were  disturbed." 

'•  ?so."  Margaret  looked  away  for  a  thoughtful 
moment,  then  back  at  him.  Ilis  stroii'.;1.  reposeful 
presence  seemed  to  appeal  to  her.  "  I  never  saw 
yon  until  ten  minutes  ago,"  she  said  suddcr.lv. 
'*  I  don  t  know  why  it  should  seem  easy  to  speak 
to  you  of  something  about  which  1  have  been  silent 
for  many  long  months  to  every  one." 


7AT    THE    MUSIC-ROOM  OO 

"  Is  it  because  I  can  help  you  in  some  way  ?  " 
Pie  looked  as  he  said  it  like  a  man  who,  despite 
his  quiet  manner,  was  accustomed  to  finding  a  way 
out  of  each  problem  of  life. 

The  girl  shook  her  head.  "  Xo,  excepting  by 
letting  me  speak.  I  'in  afraid  I  grow  morbid.  I 
have  no  friends  who  are  not  still  more  my  mother's 
friends,  and  I  try  not  to  risk  making  my  mother 
unhappy." 

••  Let  me  hear  what  troubles  you." 

'•  Ambition,  most  people  would  call  it ;  but  in 
my  soul  I  know  it  is  not  merely  that."' 

Vandyke  nodded.  "•  Ah  !  I  understand,  then. 
All  that  Mr.  French  said,  and  more,  is  true  about 
your  voice." 

Margaret's  eyes  were  moist  as  she  looked  up 
into  his. 

"  You  wish  to  go  upon  the  stage,  and  your 
mother  objects  —  naturally." 

"Naturally?"  exclaimed  the  girl. 

k<  Yes,  indeed.  She  has  everything  in  the  world 
now,  but  lacking  you,  nothing." 

"•  TVait !  "  Margaret  spoke  with  agitation.  For 
an  inexplicable  reason  she  wished  to  be  justified  in 
this  man's  eyes,  and  his  quick  perception  of  the 
truth  and  of  her  mother's  standpoint  led  her  to 
express  herself  with  the  more  freedom.  "  We  were 
both  happy  at  first  in  discovering  that  my  voice 
was  unusual.  I  worked  faithfully  here,  and  then 
mother  took  me  to  London,  where  I  studied. 


When  tnv  tonclu'l1  heard  me  lie  took  it  for  granted 
that  I  \v:is  destine;!  for  tlie  concert  sta^v.  oui  at 
iirst  he  did  not  speak  of  it.  My  hopes  pv\\ 
niv  power-,  hut  !  a]\vays  k  pt  them  to  mvseli  until 
a  day  when  mot  h  r  and  I  were  lioth  at  mv  1  aeher's 
room.  i  sa'.!^'  a  son*;  especially  \vi  I!,  and  lie.  with 
iinnsiia]  approval  and  enthusiasm,  oe'/an  to  speak 
01  mv  dehnt  in  London.  Mv  mother  opeiie 
eves,  and  at  once  treated  the  matti-r  as  a  joke. 
'1  he  teacher  persisted:  luit  \\lic-n  he  found  that 
my  mother  and  I  had  actually  not  discussed  the 
matter  of  a  professional  future  for  me.  he  was 
ama/.ed.  lie  told  mother  that  I  had  more  than 
niv  share  of  tahnis.  for  such  a  uifl  of  holding 
one's  tonsi'iii1  had  never  come  under  In-  ohserva- 
tion.  lie  saw  that  I  tell  very  unhappy,  and  he 
tried  to  comfort  me.  -Never  fear.  Miss  (arrutli. 
^  our  mother  will  change  her  mind."  he  -aid. 
•There  \\ill  i>e  no  need  for  vou  to  change  vours." 
I)iit  mother  \vas  hadlv  startled  to  iind  me  so  much 
in  earnest,  and  she  took  pa>sa^e  at  once  for 
America.  We  had  one  painful  scene,  hut  it  \\as 
the  last.  1  have  said  nothing  since  on  the  su!>- 
ject."  ^larptret  paused  an  instant  for  seli'-con- 
Irol.  tlien  \vent  on.  ••  !  can  scarcely  tell  \vliy  I 
yearn  to  do  tins  tiling.  It  is  a  ]io\\'er  in  UM;.  pre.-- 
in^'  for  outlet.  It  is  as  if  „  had  a  iiKv-sa^'e  to 
^ive  the  iimltitude.  and  must  live  in  unre.-l  nntd 
I  have  delivered  it.  I  have  v,'ro\\  n  afraid  of  my 
voice:  to  sinn1  r<»uses  in  me  such  nnntteraMe 


/.v  THE   -MUSIC-ROOM  57 

thing's,  such  long-ings.  I  am  shaken  from  my  bal 
ance.  I  cannot  do  it." 

There  was  repressed  passion  in  her  speech,  and 
she  turned  her  head  away. 

Vandyke  looked  at  the  waves  of  her  hair  as  the 
electric  lights  fell  through  the  palms  upon  her. 
Her  breast  heaved  as  if  she  felt  herself  in  chains, 
and  her  hand  was  clenched  again  upon  her  soft 
gown. 

'•  How  long'  is  it  since  you  came  back?"'  he 
asked. 

"•  Four  months." 

"  And  your  mother  does  not  refer  to  a  possi 
bility  of  any  change  in  your  manner  of  life?" 

k*  Never/' 

"  And  your  life  is  very  full,  of  course  ?  " 

'•Yes,  full"  -Margaret  turned  back  to  him 
—  ••  of  emptiness." 

"  That  should  n't  be,"  he  said  simply. 

The  girl  looked  at  him  expectantly.  That  which 
she  felt  from  him  was  not  so  much  sympathy  in 
her  mood  as  protection  from  it. 

"  I  have  heard  a  great  deal  about  the  Carruths 
since  I  came  to  Boston,  and  all  good,"  he  said. 
"  People  who  have  no  part  in  ostentation,  but  keep 
a  home  which  is  a  roof-tree  to  so  many  beside 
themselves,  and  whose  powers  are  used  to  carry 
forward  such  worthy  interests  ;  how  can  the  life 
of  such  people  be  empty  ?  " 

Her  glance  fell  away  from  his. 


••  .Mrs.  ('arruth  must  IK.'  a  remarkable   woman.' 
lie  con; iniied. 

••She    is.  indi      i:    tircl   ss.   wonderfully  efficient. 


-pcc'-h  ••  I  1  r\  i o  he  he!'  fail  lii'n!  lieutenant. 
'i'!i;it  is  '.vhat  she  wants  me  lo  be."  she  added 
slowly.  ••  .""••!  ic  likes  me  to  smg  at  ihe  coll'  ^  -et- 
t  lei  i  tent  s.  the  asylums,  the  Homes.  She  savs  ( Jod 
M.;a\ '('  me  mv  voice  for  1  hal. 

••  And  perhaps  II,-  did."  suggested  Vandyke. 
••  \\  hat  sucei  ss  do  vou  ha\'e  in  Mich  :  laces'; 

Margaret  gave  linn  a  strange  smile.  ••  Tliey 
Jove  me  for  it  poor  creat  ures  ! 

••Then  of  course  you  have  11  t  ^ivcii  up  sin^ino1 
i here  / 

Slie  looked  at  him.  liali'-apix-aliuji'.  half-defiant. 
••  It  shakes  me  so.  It  is  the  very  success,  the  coii- 
scion.-i  power  of  pi'oduein^1  the  effect,  that  unchains 
the  lon^'in^-.  Oh.  .Mr.  \andyke."  with  a  despair- 
ill"'  change  of  tone.  ••  I  m  afraid  I  can  t  make  any 
one  understand,  and  it  is  all  very  futile,  very  ego 
tistical.  It  is  better  for  me  to  Joel:  it  away  out 
of  si^ht.  where  all  well-bred  skeletons  arc  kept. 

k-  Yes.  I  think  I  do  understand,"  came  the  <p;iet 
answer.  u  Your  own  balance  and  self-control  are 
very  dear  to  you.  It  is  painful  to  you  to  acknow 
ledge  to  yourself  that  you  are  unnerved,  'i  lie 
dramatic  in  your  nature  is  too  strong  lor  you. 


IN   THE    MUSIC-ROOM  59 

Margaret  gave  him  a  grateful  look,  and  he 
returned  it  kindly. 

u  But  that  is  no  reason  for  you  to  give  up  that 
charitable  work,"  he  added. 

"  "Why  should  they  claim  so  much  ?  "  she  asked 
quickly.  "  I  can  do  other  things  for  them." 

"  So  can  other  people,"  lie  answered. 

She  flushed  to  the  roots  of  her  hair.  "  Then 
you  think  I  ought  to  go  on  yielding,  ought  to  dis 
miss  all  thoughts  of  rebellion,  —  ought  to  let  my 
mother's  will  rule  me  in  this." 

The  smile  that  grew  in  his  eyes  and  lips  as  he 
met  her  gaze  made  her  heart  beat  strangely.  "  I 
have  n't  heard  you  sing,"  he  answered.  "  At  pre 
sent  I  say  '  Yes.'  But  even  Samson's  strength 
deserted  him  once  upon  a  time." 

u  How  strange  it  is  that  I  should  have  told  you 
all  this  !  "  she  said. 

u  It  does  n't  seem  so  to  me,"  he  replied. 

Some  one  flitted  toward  the  palms.  Mrs.  Dar 
ling's  blonde  head  peeped  around  the  green. 
•"•  When  you  are  quite,  quite  through  the  lecture, 
Margaret,"  she  said  playfully,  "  your  mother  wants 
you." 

Late  that  evening,  when  all  the  guests  had  de 
parted,  Mrs.  Carruth  and  her  daughter  stood  a 
minute  before  the  open  fire. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  Miss  Gaylord,  Mar 
garet  ?  "  asked  the  former. 

"  I  think  she  is  very  much  in  earnest  about  her 
music,"  returned  the  girl  absently. 


60  A    GliKAT   LOVE 

tb  She  evidently  anuises  AVJllard.  I  "in  glad. 
\\  illard  is  a  nice  fellow,  lint  no  more  submissive 
under  Itorcdoin  than  other  men.  Did  you  talk 
with  that  ronian tie-looking  Sir  Luimcelot,  —  that 
Philadelphia  lawyer?  " 

"  Yes." 

w>  I  wonder  if  tliere  are  n't  some  Philadelphia 
girls  feeling  bereft  just  now?  However.  \\  illard 
savs  he  has  n  t  been  a  society  man.  Those  e\es! 
When  he  thanked  me  for  his  evening's  pleasure  1 
felt  as  if  I  were  being  made  love  to.  Well."  Mrs. 
Camith  yawned,  ••  it  has  been  a  long  day.  Let 
us  go  to  bed. 

Margaret  went  into  the  music  room  and  turned 
off  the  lights.  A  street-lam])  sent  a  beam  athwart 
the  palms.  The  girl  glided  into  their  shadow, 
where  sat  the  smug-faced  idol  upon  its  pedestal. 
"With  her  hands  clasped  about  its  neck,  she  leaned 
her  forehead  against  the  cold  bronxe.  and  the  thing 
smiled  complacently,  seeming  to  be  striving  to  look 
down  on  her  soft  brown  tresses  with  its  cross-eyed 
gaze. 


CHAPTER  V 

SOCIETY 

Miss  GAYLORD  heard  voices  in  the  next  room 
after  she  had  retired  that  night.  She  tried  to 
recognize  the  accents  of  the  strange  one,  but  in 
vain. 

"  I  don't  believe  it 's  that  Mr.  Vandyke,"  she 
thought.  "  Mrs.  Darling  would  n't  let  him  get 
away  like  that." 

But  it  was  Vandyke,  who,  obeying  a  quiet  in 
vitation  from  Willard  French,  had  resisted  Mrs. 
Darling's  effort  to  induce  him  to  come  in  and  have 
a  midnight  chat  with  her,  and  gone  to  French's 
room  instead. 

"  Sorry  you  don't  smoke,"  said  Willard  hospi 
tably.  "  Makes  a  fellow  feel  as  if  he  could  n't  do 
anything  to  make  you  comfortable." 

"  I  '11  smoke,  then,"  replied  Vandyke.  lie  took 
a  cigar,  lit  it,  and  dropped  into  an  easy-chair, 
while  French  took  his  favorite  attitude  on  the 
divan.  "  I  never  cared  for  it.  The  smoke  got  in 
my  way  ;  but  now  I  have  n't  anything  else  to  do." 

"  Humph  !  "  Willard  regarded  him  critically. 
"  You  have  n't  the  physique  of  a  book-worm." 

"  Oh,  a  man  looks  out  for  his  muscle."     Both 


smoked  for  a,  silent  s]>:ico.  tlien  \  andyke  eot;- 
tinncd  :  ••  I  in  glad  von  asked  me  up  liere.  No\\ 
that  I  have  met  the  ( 'arruths.  I  want  to  know  all 
1  mav  about  t  hem.' 

••  Interest  vou,  do  they  ? 

••  Surely     1     should     be     uuimpressible    it     they 
did  n't." 

'•  By  'they"  I  presume  vou  mean  Miss  ( 'ar- 
ruth.  remarked  French,  with  a  grin.  ••  ^  our 
interest  in  the  u'reat  god  Bud  to-night  reminded 
me  of  that  of  Kiplin^s  maiden  in  •  Mandalay. 
Vou 


traiHjuillv:  "and  by  -they'  I  mean  -they.'  Mrs. 
Carruth  is  a  remarkable  "woman. 

*•  Well."  said  Freucli  approvingly,  ••  evidently 
those  eves  of  vours  are  good  to  see  with.  By 
flove,  that  woman  's  got  nerve  !  he  went  on  alter 
some  thoughtful  putt's. 

His  g-uest  watched  him  and  \vaited  with  interest. 

*•  \\  alking  on  a  volcano  all  the  time,  and  knows 
it,  and  yet  —  but  what's  the  use  of  telling  you? 
It  's  just  one  person  telling  another  that  s  ^oini;' 
to  spring  the  mine  one  of  these  days.  Anybody 
who  is  a  real  friend  of  Mrs.  Carruth's  had  better 
hold  his  tongue.' 

••  Well,  vou  would  rouse  every  particle  of  curi 
osity  in  me  if  I  were  n't  already  informed. 

French  took  his  pipe  from  his  lips  and  stared. 
"  Informed  ?  "  he  echoed,  rising  on  his  elbow. 


SOCIETY  G3 

"  Oil ! "  sinking1  back  and  speaking  disgustedly. 
'•  Molly  Darling  told  yon.  She  might  have  waited, 
I  think  ;  though  I  don't  know  why  I  should  blame 
her,  when  I  did  sueh  a  silly,  sehoolgirlish  trick 
myself  as  to  refer  to  it  at  all.  Of  course  you  have 
merely  seen  Miss  Carruth,  and  you  can't  realize 
how  her  pride  is  going  to  be  wounded  in  the  most 
sensitive  place  if  the  truth  ever  does  get  to  her  ; 
but  Mrs.  Carruth  knows,  and  " 

"  Stop  !  "  commanded  Vandyke,  and  French 
stared  again.  "  We  've  been  mistaken.  I  don't 
understand  your  references.  Mrs.  Darling  has 
told  me  nothing.  What  I  know,  Miss  Carruth 
told  me  herself." 

"  A  thousand  apologies  to  the  fair  Molly,"  said 
Willard,  with  relief ;  ••  and  what,  pray,  did  Miss 
Carruth  tell  you?" 

u  What  she  did  not  expect  me  to  speak  of, 
probably.  Come,  French,  let  us  talk  about  the 
weather.  We  're  making  a  mess  of  the  other  sub*- 
ject,  I  think." 

"'  Oh,  speak  out !  You  can't  make  me  believe 
Miss  Carruth  said  anything  to  you  in  the  first  half- 
hour  of  your  acquaintance  that  she  would  n't  say 
to  me,  the  companion  of  her  mud-pie  days." 

"  I  don't  want  you  to  believe  it." 

"  Then  set  my  mind  at  rest." 

Vandyke  smiled,  but  kept  silence. 

"  You  evidently  want  to  make  me  jealous,"  re 
marked  French.  "  Miss  Carruth  has  always  been 


64  A  (;HI-:AT  LOVE 

like  a  sister  to  mo,  and  I  Vo  never  for  a  moment 
had  the  temerity  to  Relieve  that  she  would  consent 
to  lie  anything'  else  ;  hut  this  is  a  little  too  much! 
Let  "s  see."  lie  Intel-viewed  the  ceiling  through  a 
blue  ha/o.  "  I  said  Mrs.  Can-nth  was  walking  on 
a  volcano,  and  von  agreed  to  it  irom  something 
Magnet  told  you.  Oh.  —  it  had  completely  gone 
out  of  my  mind,  —  she  must  have  said  something 
to  yon  about  the  stage.  Fh  '.'  " 

Vandyke;  dropped  the  ash  from  his  cigar  into 
the  receiver. 

k"  Don't  be  shy.  my  legal  friend.  Her  mother 
referred  to  it  to  me  to-night.  Said  she  was  afraid 
jMagliet  was  growing  morbid,  or  something  to  that 
effect." 

••  Mrs.  Carrnth's  chin  looks  as  if  she  held  decided 
views,"  remarked  Vandyke.  "Her  daughter's  is 
the  same  shape,  though." 

'•  Yes."  French  smiled  at  some  thought  of  his 
own.  "  Miss  Carruth  inherits  a  surprising  number 
of  her  mother's  traits  —  considering.' 

"  Did  you  know  her  father  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Carruth  lias  boon  dead  about  ton  years. 
\  knew  him.  —  yes,  indeed.  A  powerful  man  in 
the  business  world  ;  but  1  've  thought  a  good  many 
times,"  continued  French  between  the  pulls  at  his 
pipe,  "that  Mrs.  Carruth  didn't  understand  her 
daughter  quite  as  well  as  she  ought  to.  Magnet 
chafes  at  her  own  life,  though  she  s  plucky  and 
her  mother  has  nothing  to  complain  of.  She 


SOCIETY  65 

has  n't  as  many  friends  of  her  own  age  as  you 
would  expect,  though  she  is  in  society  too.  There  's 
110  use  in  harnessing'  a  blooded  horse  to  a  coal 
wagon.  Mrs.  Carruth,  by  crooking  her  finger, 
could  get  lots  of  women  who  would  like  the  tasks 
she  sets  her  daughter,  and  would  do  them  just  as 
well." 

"  Probably  Miss  Carruth  grows  by  the  dis 
cipline." 

a  Well,  there  you  're  too  deep  for  me.  I  know 
she  keeps  a  stiff  upper  lip,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  luckiest  girls  in  Boston."  French  gave  a 
musing  exclamation.  "  I  hope  she  '11  be  good  to 
Miss  Gaylord  !  "  he  ejaculated. 

"  The  young  lady  she  was  playing  to  when  I 
went  in  ?  " 

"  Probably  ;  and  who  is  now  asleep  on  the  other 
side  of  the  wall  near  your  elbow." 

Vandyke  looked  at  the  wall  somewhat  startled. 

"  Oh,  it 's  thick,"  remarked  French. 

"  She  is  a  relative  of  yours  ?  " 

"  Possibly,  by  some  legal  quirk.  Some  are  born 
to  relatives,  some  achieve  relatives,  and  some  have 
relatives  thrust  upon  them.  This  is  one  of  the 
latter  variety.  She  is  a  sort  of  step-neighbor-in- 
law  of  mine." 

"  And  a  very  near  one,  too,"  said  Vandyke. 

"  She  can't  hear  us,  though.  That 's  all  right. 
I  'd  like  to  see  the  girl  enjoy  herself,"  remarked 
French.  "  She  is  a  stranger  here." 


"Indeed?  I  sympathize  with  her:  hut  then, 
she  knows  Airs.  Darling." 

French  turned  lazilv  on  his  couch  and  smiled  at 
his  friend.  ••  You  find  that  a  panacea,  eh  ?  " 

••  Mrs.  Darling  is  very  kind."  said  \  andyke 
gravely. 

••  Ileigho!  \\  illard  suppressed  a  vawn.  ••  Ail 
in  the  standpoint."  lie  remarked. 

"•  I  should  think  her  the  very  person  to  make  a 
girl  eii]ov  herself.  She  knows  so  mam  people." 

••  ^  on  re  right.  It  a  girl  takes  her  iancv.  she 
knows  how  to  put  her  through." 

"•('ant  you  induce  her  to  take  Miss  (i ay lord 
up?  She  seems  such  a  quiet,  retiring  gul:  >lie 
needs  just  such  reassurance  as  Mrs.  Darling1  would 
give  her. 

French's  teeth  gleamed  on  his  pipe-stem  at  this. 
••  You  and  I  together  might  accomplish  it.  ^  oil 
seem  to  lie  getting  in//ooenee  in  that  quarter." 

'•  I  ?  Oh.  not  at  all."  returned  Vandyke,  with 
such  quiet  sincerity  that  his  host  s  smile  widened. 

'•If  you  really  feel  philanthropic,  just  take  a 
little  notice  of  Miss  Gay  lord  yourself,  suggested 
French. 

'•  The  philanthropy  would  have  to  he  on  her 
side.  I  assure  you.  I  "in  always  tongue-tied  with 
women  who  don't  help  me  out. 

French  laughed.  ••  She  "11  help  you  out  all 
right." 

'•  1  should  Lo  very  ulad  to  meet  her  auain."  said 


SOCIETY  67 

Vandyke  courteously.  "  How  soon,"  lie  added, 
with  an  earnest  hesitation  which  entertained  his 
host  vastly,  "  how  soon  would  it  be  permissible  for 
me  to  go  again  to  the  Carruths'  ?  " 

"  Just  follow  your  inclination,  my  dear  fellow. 
You'll  never  run  against  any  formality  there/' 

"  That  is  very  agreeable  advice."  The  speaker 
sat  up  in  his  chair  with  a  look  of  pleasure. 

"  The  difficulty  is,  they  're  not  often  at  home 
except  on  their  evening,"  went  on  French. 

"  Of  course."  The  visitor's  face  fell.  "  I 
had  n't  thought  of  that  ;  but,"  hopefully,  "  there 
is  always  that  evening." 

"  Oh,  yes,  there  is  always  that  evening,"  echoed 
French.  "  Well,"  he  said  to  himself  after  his 
guest  had  departed,  "  there  is  one  square  peg  that 
has  found  a  .square  hole,  sure !  The  magnet 
works  again  !  ({ad!  he 's  a  queer  chap!  I  can't 
find  out  whether  he  was  born  yesterday,  or  only 
has  chivalry  to  burn — -as  my  ward  would  ex 
press  it." 

Vandyke  in  his  inexperience  had  not  counted 
on  the  likelihood  of  meeting  the  Carruths  acciden 
tally  at  some  of  the  many  functions  to  which  he 
began  to  be  invited.  He  knew  nothing  of  the 
circles,  the  cliques,  the  strata,  and  variety  of 
society  in  Boston ;  so  the  pleasant  surprise  was 
the  greater  when,  011  an  evening  soon  afterward, 
in  the  crowded  drawing-room  of  one  of  his  new 
friends,  he  saw  Miss  Carruth.  She  had  recog- 


68 

nized  him  first,  and  regarded  him  fixedly  as,  after 
a  few  greetings  and  remarks,  he  stood  for  a  minute 
impassive  of  countenance,  wait  ing. 

Expression  suddenly  flashed  over  his  face,  and 
lie  strode  toward  her. 

••  !  willed  von  to  look  at  me.  she  said,  \vith  a 
frank,  childlike  smile  that  had  mischief  in  it,  and 
showed  a  new  phase  of  her. 

l>  Then  no  wonder  I  did,"  he  responded.  She 
•was  dressed  in  white,  her  shoulders  hare,  and  her 
•well-carried  head  was  crowned  by  a  slender  dia 
dem  full  of  tiny  sparks  of  light.  lie  saw  that  her 
presence  was  superb,  though  still  girlish,  and  his 
mind  was  full  ot  her  fitness  to  carrv  out  those 
desires  which  just  now  seemed  far  from  her  happy 
thoughts. 

'vl  did  not  dream  of  finding  yon  here."  he  went 
on.  -else  I  should  have  come  with  far  more  plea 
sure."  A  greater  radiance  grew  in  her  face.  kk  I 
give  you  my  word.  I  'm  sleepy  all  the  time.  Aliss 
Carruth.  I  have  always  heard  that  Boston  people 
were  cold  and  conservative.  Why,  1  never  met 
such  cordiality  in  my  life  !  When  J  came  to  this 
city,  it  was  with  the  intention  of  staying,  and  I 
had  a  reason  for  desiring  to  secure  some  social 
standing,  but  "  -  he  paused  with  a  comical  look 
of  deprecation. 

'•  You  did  n't  bargain  for  standing  room  only," 
laughed  Margaret.  The  dull  evening  had  become 
so  interesting.  "  Come,  I  "m  tired  too.  I  know 


SOCIETY  G9 

this  house."  They  passed  together  out  into  the 
hall  and  down  its  length,  to  where,  by  a  deep  win 
dow,  a  seat  was  built  into  the  wall. 

There  they  sat,  followed  by  the  envious  glances 
of  some  who  wished  they  had  been  first  to  discover 
this  restful  nook. 

"  I  begin  to  see  that  1  must  either  give  up  my 
work  or  not  accept  everything,"  added  Vandyke, 
basking  in  his  good  fortune,  as  he  looked  at  Mar 
garet  leaning  back  in  her  corner,  with  the  tiny 
sparks,  like  fireflies,  in  her  hair. 

"  Yes,  you  can  pick  and  choose,  for  society  is  n't 
an  important  part  of  a  man's  work.  It  is  of  ours. 
Sometimes  we  get  rewards,"  she  added. 

"  Sometimes  we  do  indeed,"  he  returned  signifi 
cantly,  not  appropriating  her  suggestion,  but  giv 
ing  his  own  openly.  "  I  have  been  wanting  to 
see  you  again.  Those  one  meets  who  furnish  food 
for  thought  are  so  few.  My  first  consideration 
when  I  make  a  new  acquaintance  is  to  wonder 
what  this  person  is  going  to  do  for  me :  what 
will  he  or  she  do  for  me  in  my  mental  gymna 
sium?"  His  eyes,  as  he  spoke,  looked  so  frankly 
expectant  that  Margaret  smiled,  though  an  unde 
fined  sensation  of  disappointment  ran  through  her 
too. 

"  You  are  not  thinking  that  I  can  do  anything 
toward  developing  your  mental  muscle,  I  hope  ?  " 

"  Did  that  confession  sound  cold-blooded  ?  "  he 
asked.  "It  is  true,  though." 


70 

"That  is  redundancy,  Mr.  Vandyke.  The  vice 
of  insincerity  will  surely  never  be  laid  at  your 
door." 

"  Yes  :  that  is  why  I  probably  shall  never  lie 
an  ornament  to  society." 

The  girl  raised  her  eyebrows.  "  If  yon  are 
cynical,  then  I  shall  never  again  believe  that  I  can 
read  character. 

"Cynical?  I  hope  not:  but  I  haven't  any 
small  talk.  I  am  stupid  unless  the  conversation 
interests  me. 

"  Perhaps  that  is  what  yon  expect  to  get  from 
me  in  vonr  mental  gymnasium. 

'•  Interesting  conversation  ?      Certainly  I  do." 

"  No  :    education  in  small  talk." 

"\Vheii  Vandyke  smiled,  as  he  did  now  in 
response  to  Margaret,  there  came  a  caressing  look 
in  his  eves  which,  never  having  seen  it  in  his  own 
face,  it  would  have1  astonished  him  profoundly  to 
suspect.  "  Is  that  the  way  I  look  at  women  ?  "  he 
would  probably  question,  and  forthwith  proceed  to 
cultivate  a  more  impersonal  regard  :  but  as  nothing 
interested  him  less  than  his  own  countenance,  lie 
was  not  likely  to  discover  its  expressions  or  to 
repent  and  reform  in  this  particular. 

"  I  shall  he  glad  to  learn  anything  you  will 
teach  me,"  he  said.  ".Have  you  any  small  talk?" 

'•  Thank  you,"  she  replied  encouragingly. 
"That  was  good.  You  are  doing  well. 

He  picked  up  her  fan  and  looked  at  it.      He  did 


SOCIETY  71 

not  know  whether  to  remind  her  how  far  removed 
from  superficiality  their  previous  interview  had 
been.  Her  mood  now  was  so  altered. 

"What  have  you  been  doing?"  he  asked. 

"  Since  when  ?  " 

He  looked  up  again.      "  Since  I  knew  you." 

'"Let  me  see.  That  is  three  days.  I  have  been 
singing." 

"  What  ! " 

"  Yes.  I  sang  at  a  Mission  on  Sunday  after 
noon." 

lie  looked  at  her  full  of  interest.  "How  did 
that  happen  ?  " 

u  I  thought  over  what  you  said  to  me,  and 
mother  asked  me  to.  See  what  you  are  doing  in 
my  mental  gymnasium  !  " 

"  Why  did  n't  you  reward  me  by  letting  me 
know?  I  might  have  heard  you  too." 

"  I  did  n't  know  where  to  reach  you  —  and  I 
should  n't  have  considered  doing  so  in  any  case. 
I  was  too  busy  controlling  my  runaways." 

"  Perhaps  had  you  known  my  address  you 
might  have  thought  of  me  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  thought  of  you." 

"  Let  me  provide  against  a  possible  future." 
Vandyke  took  his  visiting  card  from  a  pocket  and 
wrote  on  it  the  address  of  a  club.  "  I  suppose 
your  mother  was  much  pleased." 

"  Yes.  I  did  n't  tell  her  who  had  awakened  my 
conscience." 


72  ,1    GREAT    LOVE 

"  And  was  the  effect  of  your  work  on  your  audi 
ence  the  same  as  before? 

She  nodded. 

u  And  still  painful  on  yourself?  Tell  me  if  I 
am  probing  where  I  should  not. 

"  I  hud  more  self-control  this  time," 

"  Supposing  you  should  grow  out  of  the  morbid 
condition  altogether?  " 

A  lambent  glow  came  in  the  girl's  gray  eyes. 
and  the  sparks  flashed  in  her  hair  as  she  stirred. 
"••  Is  it  morbid  for  a  bird  to  crave  to  use  its  wings 
as  well  as  to  sing?  she  asked  quietly. 

"Poor  bird!  P>rave  bird!"  said  Vandyke.  "If 
it  were  not  presumptuous  in  me  to  praise  you.  I 
should  tell  YOU  how  1  admire  you  tor  the  victory. 

Margaret's  breast  rose  and  fell,  and  she  leaned 
back  on  the  cushions  behind  her. 

"  Where  can  you  put  this  card  ?"  he  went  on 
after  a  minute. 

"  Nowhere."  She  smiled  at  him.  "  Woman's 
rights  in  the  matter  of  pockets  have  n't  penetrated 
to  evening  gowns."' 

u  There  !  "  he  said  plaintively,  turning  the  card 
undecidedly  in  his  fingers.  "  You  see  how  I  blun 
der.  Tell  me  what  I  should  have  done?" 

"You  should  have  said:  -  Miss  Carruth,  let  me 
send  you  my  address  to-morrow. '  ' 

"  Miss  Carruth.  let  me  send  you  my  address 
to-morrow,"  he  repeated,  then  added  blankly, 
"but  I've  forgotten  yours." 


SOCIETY  73 

She  laughed.  "  You  are  a  hopeless  case,  —  an 
absolutely  hopeless  ease." 

"  But  you  can  tell  me  the  number." 

"  Of  course  I  can  ;  but  how  much  more  compli 
mentary  it  would  have  been  for  you  to  telephone 
Willard  French  for  it  to-morrow !  " 

"  Oh  I  "  said  Vandyke,  pondering  on  the  lesson 
so  seriously  that  Margaret  laughed  anew,  while 
another  man's  voice  spoke  near  them. 

"Who  invokes  Willard  French?"  That  per 
sonage  approached  and  stood  before  them,  wonder 
ing  at  what  he  discovered.  "  To  find  Magnet 
Carruth  twosing  with  any  man  !  What  next  ?  " 
was  his  mental  comment. 

"  I  was  so  afraid  I  might  hear  too  good  things 
of  myself,  I  spoke  at  once,"  he  remarked. 

"Modest  violet,  I  'in  glad  you  did,"  said  Mar 
garet.  "  You  know,  when  I  get  to  talking  about 
you,  Willard,  my  feelings  are  apt  to  carry  me 
away.  There  "s  a  model  for  you,"  she  added, 
turning  to  Vandyke. 

"  Oh,  Magnet,  come  !  "  protested  French,  shyly 
shading  his  face  with  his  hand. 

"  Poor  boy  !  No,  I  did  n't  mean  that  you  were 
the  model.  Mr.  Vandyke  understands." 

"  Perhaps  he  does  ;  but  your  mother  thinks  you 
are  lost." 

"  Does  she  ?  When  you  go  back,  tell  her  I  'm 
not,  won't  you?  " 

French  raised  himself  on  his  toes.     "  How  do 


74  A 

you  know    I  "in   going'   l>aek  '.'      I    think    I  'd  rather 
stay  and  be  lost  with  \'ou. 

••  I  made  a  mistake.  Mr.  Vandyke,  in  saving 
that  Mr.  French  is  not  the  model  for  what  \  on 
want,  i  Ie  is  the  very  person." 

••  ( )h,  come  !       I  f  von    re  going  to  talk  riddles  ! 

'•  But  1  tell  yon  that  Mr.  Vandyke  nnder- 
stands."' 

••So  no  matter  about  me.  1  suppose.  >aid  \Vil- 
lard.  injured. 

"  No  matter  about  von.  1  Io\v  i>  Miss  (iav- 
lordr" 

"•  Asleep.  I  jtresnme.  She  seems  to  have  a 
good  eoiix-ienee. 

'•How  is  her  iniisie  getting1  on  ? 

••\\eil  iMiougii.  1  i'anev.  I  gather  from  her 
remarks  that  harmony  is  intvoducing'  more  discord 
into  her  life  than  anything  else  just  now." 

"Oh.  harmony  is  enough  to  turn  anybody's  hair 
gray.  I  went  into  it  a  little  wav  and  then 
retreated  as  gracefully  as  possible.  Does  mother 
want  me  for  anything  in  particular?" 

*•  I  think  she  wishes  you  to  meet  an  old  party 
whose  business  it  is  to  see  stars." 

*••  To  complete  his  education  ?  suggested  \  an- 
dyke. 

Margaret  turned  to   him  demurely.      "  Bravo!' 
she  murmured. 

••lie's  an  English  astronomer,  and  something 
of  a  lion.  I  judge.  I  left  him  roaring  gently  to 


SOCIETY  <0 

Mrs.  Darling.  She  '11  have  him  purring  before 
she  gets  done  with  him." 

"  I  should  like  to  meet  him,"  said  Vandyke, 
with  interest. 

Margaret  rose  instantly.  "  Let  us  go,"  she 
said.  French  lounged  ahead  of  them. 

'•  I  will  take  that  card,"  she  added  to  her 
escort. 

Vandyke  hesitated.  "  But  you  have  no  place 
to  put  it." 

"I  will  find  a  place." 

Vandyke  took  the  card  from  his  pocket,  and 
she  placed  it  between  the  leaves  of  her  closed  fan. 
lie  viewed  its  insecure  position.  "  It  will  slip 
out,  there,"  he  said. 

She  smiled  and  tapped  her  gloved  palm  with 
the  ivory  sticks.  "Did  you  ever  own  a  fan?" 
she  asked. 

Later  in  the  evening  they  met  again.  He 
glanced  her  over.  "  You  did  drop  that  address," 
he  said. 

"  What  a  memory  you  have  for  trifles ! "  she 
responded,  biting  her  lip. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon.  It  is  n't  a  trifle  to  me. 
Very  well,"  he  smiled,  "  to-morrow  I  shall  tele 
phone  to  French  and  wrrite  you  a  note." 

"  If  you  remember,"  she  answered. 

But  that  night,  while  she  made  ready  for  bed, 
Burton  Vandyke's  bit  of  pasteboard  lay  safely  on 
her  dressing-table. 


(•HAITI-IK  vi 

A     \K\V     LKAK 

-  AVi;  mustn't  forget  Miss  (laylord."  Mrs. 
Carruth  said  to  her  daughter  as  thev  sat  at  lireak- 
fast  the  next  morning.  ••  She  inav  lie  getting1 
lonely." 

••  \\  ould  n  t  slie  come  to  us  it'  she  were  '.' 

'•  I  don  t  know.  She  mi»'ht  not.  ('onld  n't 
you  run  in  there  soinetinie  to-day  and  take  a  look 
at  her  ?  '' 

So  Margaret,  returning  from  a  lunch  that  after 
noon,  directed  her  driver  to  stoj>  at  Mrs.  Barlow's 
in  Newliury  Street.  The  maid  who  answered  her 
vm<f  seemed  doulitful  what  to  do  with  her.  Kvi- 
dentlv  a  caller  for  Miss  (iaylord  was  a  novelty. 

Finally,  deciding'  against  the  exertion  of  running 
up  the  lono'  flights  of  stairs,  she  told  the  visitor 
where  Althea's  room  was.  and  left  her  to  her  own 
devices. 

Miss  CaiTuth  found  her  friend's  door  ajar,  and 
in  the  moment  while  she  hesitated  to  lie  certain 
that  she  was  ri^ht,  she  eauvjit  a  glimpse  of  Alihea. 
sitting  in  a  rather  dejected  attitude,  her  hands 
crossed  listlessly  in  her  la]),  and  her  face  averted. 


A    NEW   LEAF  77 

looking  out  a  window  which  gave  upon  the  brick 
wall  of  the  next  house. 

"  In  good  time,"  thought  Margaret ;  and  she 
knocked. 

u  Come,"  said  Althea  indifferently ;  but  when, 
instead  of  the  maid  with  towels,  appeared  the 
vision  of  Miss  Carruth  in  visiting  costume,  the  girl 
sprang  up  with  flushing  cheeks. 

"•  How  good  of  you  !  "  she  said. 

"  I  did  n't  know  that  you  would  be  pleased  by  this 
informal  performance,  but  I  did  as  I  was  told," 
said  Margaret,  giving  Althea's  hand  a  cordial 
pressure.  Miss  Gaylord  doubted  for  a  swift  in 
stant  if  her  guest  would  kiss  her,  and  even  made  a 
slight  movement  of  her  own  head,  which  Miss  Car 
ruth  perceived.  "  I  don't  like  to  kiss  veils,  and  I 
won't  make  you  do  it,"  went  on  the  guest  brightly. 
"  What  a  nice  little  music-room  you  have  !  I  sus 
pect  there  is  a  lot  of  work  done  here." 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  said  Althea.  "  If  one  could 
only  work  all  the  time  !  Sit  down,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  you  are  insatiable  !  "  Miss  Carruth  ac 
cepted  the  offered  chair. 

"  But  the  idle  hours  are  so  prosy." 

"  Lucky  girl  to  have  any !  "  said  Margaret. 

"  Why,  I  don't  see  what  you  can  have  to  do 
except  amuse  yourself." 

"  I  never  amuse  myself,"  said  Margaret,  con 
tinuing  to  look  about  her. 

"  What  in  the  world  can  you  mean  ?  " 


7S 

'"  AVcll.    you     come     and     be     Miss    ('arruth    a 
month,  and    see.      Of   course    you    would    hay    the- 
pleasure  of    bv;ng'    with    my   precious    mother:     i.nt 
that  is  all   I  should  begrudge  you  if  YOU  would  give 
me  this  little  den  in  exchange." 

-  Well.  I  '11  be"  -  began  Altliea.  in  slow 
amazement,  then  suddenly  stopped  herself  with  a 
cough.  "  \N  hy.  if  you  really  feel  that  way.  I  m 
not  going  to  be  a  bit  afraid  of  YOU  any  more. 
Won't  you  take  off  your  things  ?" 

"I  haven't  time  to-day.  But  why  should  YOU 
l>c  afraid  of  me  ? 

••  Because  —  well,  you  '11  find  out  probably  after 
I  ye  shocked  you  a  few  times.  \\  on  r  YOU  have 
some  candy?  Altliea  reached  for  a  large  box 
of  chocolates  on  a  neighboring  table.  ••  I  hey  re 
delicious,  and  you  ought  to  haye  some,  for  you 
were  the  cause  of  my  getting  them." 

"How  mysterious  you  are!  Miss  (/arruth 
took  one  of  the  confections,  and  Altliea  filled  her 
own  little  mouth  and  talked  on  under  difficul 
ties. 

"  T  won  it  on  a  "bet.  Do  you  think  that  > 
awful?"  She  regarded  her  visitor  with  serious 
questioning. 

k-  That  depends."  said  Margaret. 

••  AN' ell.  yon  see.  it  was  this  way.  The  other 
night,  at  your  house,  Mr.  French  and  I  were  out 
in  the  hall  and  we  heard  you  playing.  lie  said 
you  were  playing  to  that  Vandyke  man  with  the 


A    NEW    LEAF  79 

eyes  ;  but  I  knew  better.  I  knew  Mrs.  Darling 
was  in  there  and  that  you  would  n't  get  a  chance." 

Miss  Carruth  flushed  suddenly,  and  an  imper 
ceptible  stiffness  ran  through  her. 

k*  Do  take  some  more,"  said  Althea,  giving  a 
little  hospitable  shake  to  the  box.  '•  Candy  never 
hurts  me  ;  does  it  you  ?  " 

"  Sometimes.      No  more  now,  thank  you." 

Miss  Gay  lord  sank  back  in  her  chair,  putting 
another  chocolate  in  her  mouth.  "  Mr.  French 
had  the  nerve  to  say  that  he  had  really  won  the 
bet,  even  after  I  showed  him  the  great  Van  sitting- 
just  where  I  said  he  would  be." 

Margaret  gave  the  faintest  smile  out  at  the  brick 
wall,  then  back  at  her  hostess.  "•  What  a  funny 
child  you  are  !  "  she  said. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know,"  responded  Althea,  lifting 
her  chin  with  a  little  rowdyish  air.  "  I  don't 
believe  I  'in  so  much  more  of  a  child  than  you  are. 
But  I  knew  I  \l  shock  you.  I  suppose  I  have, 
have  n't  I  ?  "  she  added  curiously. 

'•  I  —  I  don't  think  I  quite  understand  you." 

"  I  suppose  not,"  said  Althea  resignedly.  "  I 
did  n't  suppose  anybody  in  Boston  would.  That 's 
the  reason  I  made  up  my  mind  to  be  a  recluse." 

"  And  now  you  don't  find  it  pleasant  to  be  a 
recluse  ?  " 

"  Oh,  once  in  a  while  it 's  a  bore  ;  but  it 's  bet 
ter  than  walking  on  the  ragged  edge  of  slang  all 
the  time  with  people  like  you." 


80 

''Slant;'?"  repeated  Miss  Carruth,  surprised. 

"  Yes.    I   '(I    lie  glad   to  give    it    Up.   but    (ice   will/! 

what  n  hold  it  gets  on  anybody!  At  voi;r  house 
tin1  other  night  1  did  n't  dare  to  say  a  tiling  but 
'yes'  and  •  no.'  People  \vlio  can  use  it  or  not 
use  it.  like  M  i's.  Darling,  are  niv  despair.  I  in 
not  that  \vav.  It's  got  to  be  total  alist  iiM-iiee 
with  me  or  the  whole  thing.  I  wish  there  was  a 
'  D wight '  for  the  cure  of  slang.  I  don't  know 
Imt  I  'd  rather  lie  honest,  though,  than  to  lie  like 
.Mrs.  Darling  —  all  things  to  all  men.  and  the 
more  men  the  merrier. 

Margaret  winced,  and  spoke  hastily  :  '•  Mrs.  Dar 
ling  is  my  cousin.  —  at  least,  her  husband  is." 

"•Oh.  that's  so!  What  a  jay  I  was  to  forget 
it  !  "  exclaimed  Althea  contritely.  '-Mi'.  Darling 
is  one  of  the  finest  men  I  ever  saw.  \  on  mu>t 
think  the  world  of  him. 

k>  We  do.  I  am  surprised  that  you  seem  so 
familiar  with  them. 

"Oh,  I  knew  them  all  right  out  in  Colorado: 
that  is,  I  did  n't  see  much  oi  him,  Imt  von  don  t 
need  to  cat  a  whole  jar  of  butter  to  find  out  it  's 
good.  I  was  just  fascinated  with  her  too.  hut  not 
so  much  that  I  could  n  t  see  that  he  was  miles  too 
food  for  her  ;  and  since  she  snubbed  me  the  other 

t* 

day  on  the  street,  I  m  not  so  much  bewitched  as  I 
was.  I  'd  lots  rather  be  like  yon,''  added  Althea 
naVvely.  "  I  'm  going  to  make  a  stab  at  it.  too. 
I  was  thinking  about  you  when  you  came  in 


A    NEW   LEAF  81 

to-day.  See  that  box  tacked  up  on  the  wall  ? 
That  's  a  slang1  box.  I  began  putting  in  a  nickel 
for  the  poor  children's  fresh-air  fund  every  time  I 
slipped,  but  my  !  I  soon  saw  that  there  would  n't 
be  an  unaired  slum  baby  in  Boston,  and  that 
they  \1  have  to  reach  over  into  Xew  York  to  sup 
ply  the  demand  ;  so  I  'in  going  to  come  down  in 
my  tax.  The  boys  at  home  have  an  anti-swearing 
club.  My  little  brother  belongs,  and  he  showed 
me  the  list  of  fines.  '  Darns  '  were  four  for  a  cent. 
I  'm  going  to  take  example  and  moderate  my 
extravagance,  so  there  '11  be  some  hope  of  going 
on  with  my  music." 

"  That 's  right  ;  I  would  n't  talk  slang.  I  want 
to  hear  you  play  when  you  feel  like  it." 

"  AVhy  should  you  ?  You  are  n't  paid  to  suffer, 
like  my  poor  teacher.  Some  day  I  'm  going  to 
hear  you  again.  It  does  me  lots  of  good." 

"  llight  now,  if  you  like,"  said  Margaret,  begin 
ning  to  take  off  her  gloves. 

Althea's  face  brightened,  and  just  then  a  tap 
came  at  the  half-open  door.  "  Come,"  said  the 
girl,  and  in  walked  Mrs.  Darling. 

"  Oh  !  it 's  you,  Margaret !  "  cried  the  new 
comer.  "  I  wondered  who  Miss  Gaylord  had. 
Well,  how  do  you  do  ?  Are  n't  you  cosy,  up 
here  !  " 

Althea  rose  and  returned  the  visitor's  greeting 
mechanically.  "  How  strange,"  she  said  stiffly, 
"  that  it  never  rains  but  it  pours  cats  and  dogs." 


Mrs.  Darling'  laughed.  ••  I  "in  interested  to 
know  which  of  us  is  the  cat,  are  n't  you,  Marga 
ret  ?  " 

•'.Miss  Carruth's  second  visit  and  your  lirst." 
pursued  Miss  Ciaylord,  ••  at  tine  and  the  same 
time." 

t-  Yes.''  Mrs.  Darling  seated  herself  comfort 
ably.  "  L  only  found  out  last  evening  where  you 
were.  How  strange  that  vou  should  he  in  the 
same  house  with  \Villard  French!"  While  sue 
spoke,  her  eyes  were  roving  about,  taking  notes 
of  the  furnishings  of  the  room.  ••  Ah  !  those  art- 
good  photographs  of  your  lather  and  mother. 
Are  they  well?  Is  n't  she  cosy  here.  Margaret  ?'' 

••  ^  es  :  I  was  just  telling  her  I  half-envied  her. 
There  is  something  bohemiuu  in  my  blood  that 
stirs  at  the  thought  of  student  life.  I  don  t  know 
which  side  I  get  it  from.  I  'm  sure.  Do  vou? 

'•'Oh,  I  think  your  mother  would  make  a  very 
gootl  bohemian  if  she  were  put  to  it.  You  ought 
to  have  a  tire  in  that  little  grate,  my  dear,  and 
where  is  your  tea-table?  " 

"  I  had  n't  thought  yet  about  a  tea-table,"  said 
Althea  with  dignity. 

u  "Well,  you  should  have,"  retorted  Mrs.  Dar 
ling  vivaciously.  ••  I  was  saying  to  myself,  as  1 
climbed  those  wretched  long  stairs,  what  a  refresh 
ing  cup  of  tea  I  was  going  to  have.  I  '11  tell  you 
what,''  she  added  with  inspiration,  "go  and  get 
the  tea-things  out  of  Willard's  room," 


A    NEW  LEAF  83 

Miss  Gaylord  held  herself  with  what  she  hoped 
was  a  good  imitation  of  the  repose  of  the  Vere  de 
Veres. 

"  I  'm  sorry  to  disappoint  you,  Mrs.  Darling', 
but  I  never  go  into  Mr.  French's  room." 

"  What,  never  ?  The  very  next  room,  and  he 
away  all  day  !  Oh,  my  dear  !  "We  've  met  before  ! 
It  's  hardly  ever,  is  n't  it  ?  Let  this  be  one  of  the 
exceptions.  The  idea  of  that  little  minx  putting 
on  airs  with  me  !  "  she  thought  with  amusement. 

"  There  are  no  exceptions,  Mrs.  Darling.'' 

"  And  that  room  has  remained  a  Blue  Beard 
chamber  to  you  ever  since  you  have  been  in  this 
house?  "  incredulously. 

"Not  at  all,"  returned  A  Ithea  coolly.  "Why 
should  I  be  curious  about  Mr.  French 's  room  ? 
Here  is  some  of  his  candy,"  she  added,  passing 
the  box.  "  Let  chocolate  apologize  for  tea  this 
once,  and  I  '11  try  to  have  some  the  next  time  you 
come." 

"  Primes  and  prisms,  Allie ! "  laughed  Mrs. 
Darling,  as  she  took  a  chocolate.  "  Are  n't  you 
proper  !  "  And  upon  this  Margaret  was  discon 
certed  to  receive  from  that  one  of  Althea's  eyes 
concealed  from  her  other  guest,  an  elaborate 
wink. 

"  Oh,  I  just  gave  her  a  lesson  in  deportment, 
and  don't  you  forget  it,"  said  Miss  Gaylord 
impressively,  telling  French  all  about  the  visit 
that  evening  after  dinner.  They  usually  had  a 


84 

talk  in  the  parlor  hefore  separating',  lie  for  hi-; 
evenings  eii^au'eiiient  and  she  1o  her  novel  or  let 
ter-writing.  ••  I  in'iie.s.s  she  thought  von  were  v,one 
on  me  when  she  saw  the  si/e  ot  mv  eandv  hox." 
continued  the  i^'irl.  with  an  apprecial  i  \  e  shah  of 
tiic  head.  ••  I  did  n  1  let  //(•/•  know  it  uas  a  het, 
though  I  "d  told  Miss  ('arruth  all  about  it  before 
.M  i's.  i  )arlinii'  came  in. 

••  .\liout  what  '.'  " 

k-  A  oout  our  bet. 

*••  ^  on  did  ! 

'•Yes,  of  course.  \\liv  not?"  allied  Althea 
ooollv. 

••  \\'hv       -  X'andvke     was    a     stranger    to     Miss 
Carrnth        she    nuist     have    though!    it    strange 
people  don  t  sav  such  tilings  to  her.         French  was 
incoherent  in    his    hopelessness  ot    niakinu  his  com 
panion  understand. 

••Oh,  come  oft'  the  roof  !  in  a  disgusted  drawl. 
'•People  are  always  trying  to  make  out  that  Miss 
Carrutli  is  a  little  tin  ^'od  on  wheels.  She  s  no 
thing  of  the  kind." 

French  looked  doulit  fullv  at  the  boyish-talking. 
girlish-looking  s])eaker.  Althea  was  always  dressed 
with  quiet  and  perfect  taste,  the  slenderest  ot  lit 
tle  jewelled  rin^s  were  on  her  dainty  hands.  lie 
never  adjusted  himself  to  her  paradoxes.  "Seems 
to  me  that  is  a  new  rul>v  you  have,  he  remarked, 
catching  the  e;low  of  a  small  stone  on  her  linger. 
tk  Where  did  you  <ret  that  ?  " 


A    NEW   LEAF  85 

"  The  gift  of  the  groom,"  returned  Althea  non 
chalantly. 

"  Yon  have  a  lot  of  pretty  things,"  said  French. 
"  Why  don't  yon  talk  pearls  and  diamonds,  too?  " 

"  What  are  you  giving  us?"  she  inquired. 

"Don't    von    remember  the   fairv  storv,  where 

\j  «/  «• 

one  princess  talked  pearls  and  diamonds,  and  the 
other  frogs  and  snakes  ?  " 

"  Slang,  do  yon  mean?"  Althea  smiled  inter 
estedly. 

French  smiled  back  in  silence. 

"  Say,  are  you  preaching  to  me  ?  "  The  idea 
seemed  to  entertain  her  genuinely. 

"  Why  should  n't  I  ?  " 

"  Because,  Reverend  Willurd,  there  is  n't  any 
necessity.  You  "re  on  the  freight  train,  man ! 
Get  off  and  take  the  express  !  " 

"  What  are  you  at  now  ?  " 

"  I  '111  going  to  give  it  all  up  —  the  whole  shoot 
ing-match,"  said  Miss  Gaylord,  with  an  expansive 
gesture. 

"What9     Slang?" 

"  That 's  right,"  Althea  nodded  impressively. 
"  I  'm  going  to  be  like  Miss  Carruth." 

The  spontaneity  of  the  laugh  which  French 
emitted  brought  the  blood  stinging  to  the  girl's 
cheeks. 

"  Why  not,  I  should  like  to  know  ?  "  she  asked, 
and  seeing  the  hurt  light  in  her  eyes,  he  endeav 
ored  to  check  his  mirth. 


SO 

tl  I  was  only  wondering,"  he  said  rather  bro 
kenly,  "when  you  wen-  going  to  begin. 

••  I  have  begun.  Tliere  s  a  box  tacked  up  0:1 
niv  Aval]  now  ior  iines  for  the  poor  children, s 
fresh-air  fund." 

••  I  low  iinicl;  are  you  going  to  put  in  wh>'U  you 
go  upstairs  ? 

••  \\  liv,    I    liaven  t    been     verv   bad    to-ui^ht  ! 
said  Althea  naVvely. 

••  You  don't  notice  it  when  you  "re  with  me  as 
much  as  you  would  with  Magnet —  Miss  ( 'ar- 
ruth." 

'•  Magnet  's  a  corking  ^ood  name  for  her," 
remarked  Miss  (iaylord  warmlv.  "She  (list  draws 
me  like  —  like  " 

'•  Vour  <;•()()(!  ani^'el  ?  She  will  lie  your  uood 
anii'el.  too.  if  von  11  let  her.  said  French  encour- 
n<^'iii<;lv.  '•  I)iit  what  did  she  say  when  you  told 
her  of  our  bet  ?  " 

"  Said  J  was  a  funny  child." 

"  Is  that  all  ?  " 

"  Of  course.  You  "re  all  off  your  trolley  about 
her.  She  "s  all  ri^ht.  She  thinks  the  folks  are 
as  g'ood  as  the  people.  "  Althea  finished  with  a 
wink  and  nod  that  clinched  the  matter. 

French  regarded  her  thoughtfully.  Evidently 
Margaret  had  been  successfully  adaptable,  and 
who  knew  what  might  be  the  permanent  result  to 
this  girl  of  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Darling  had  snubbed 
her  on  their  first  accidental  meeting  '! 


A    NEW   LEAF  87 

"  I  was  having1  so  much  joy  with  her  when  Mrs. 
Darling  came  in.  She  was  just  going1  to  play. 
Of  course,  it  was  kind  of  Mrs.  Darling  to  come, 
though  I  guess  it  was  only  to  see  what  I  was  doing' 
so  close  to  you.  How  did  she  know  you  had  tea- 
things?  " 

'*  I  gave  her  and  some  other  women  tea  in  my 
room  one  day." 

"•  It 's  a  wonder  she  did  n't  make  a  break  in 
there  herself  this  afternoon,  and  swipe  'em." 

French  looked  up,  gently  inquiring,  "•  And  how 
much  fresh  air  does  '  swipe  '  buy  a  poor  baby?" 

"  What  ?     Oh,  yes  !      I  don't  know." 

"  I  think  '  swipe '  ought  to  come  high,"  he 
suggested. 

Althea  smiled.  "  You  consider  it  particularly 
froggy  ?  Just  think !  I  did  n't  even  know  I 
said  it." 

"  You  poor  girl ! ' 

The  exclamation  was  so  serious  that  a  slow, 
surprised  look  of  resentment  came  in  her  eyes. 
"  You  say  that  as  if  you  pitied  me." 

"  I  do.  I  know  something  about  habits.  I 
had  the  cigarette  mania  once,  and  was  nearly  broken 
up  before  I  caught  myself." 

"  I  know  that 's  perfectly  awful,"  agreed  Althea, 
"  but  slang  is  different.  It  does  n't  injure  you." 

"  Oh  yes,  it  does  —  a  girl,"  he  answered. 

She  regarded  him  askance,  and  he  looked  at  her 
directly.  "  Damages  her,"  he  went  on,  slowly  and 


88 

deliberately,  "  knocks  oft'  the  bloom.  She  becomes 
a  good  fellow  :it  best.  ^  mi  understand." 

Althea  half-rose  troin  her  chair,  but  pride  forced 
her  back,  lie  continued  in  the  same  (juiei.  com 
monplace  tone  :  — 

••  Much  better  to  become  like  Miss  ('arnith.  as 
you  surest." 

"•  I  don  t  sec  how  I  ni  go  in  14'  to  when  I  don  t 
know  what  I  say  ball'  the  Time."  Miss  (iaylord 
was  defiant,  lint  suddenly  very  near  tears.  Petted, 
beloved  at  home.  Haltered  by  the  youths  of  her 
acquaintance,  to  tind  herself  an  object  of  genuine 
criticism  in  the  eves  ol  a  vounu'  man  who  uas 
thoroughly  at  home  in  a  set  where  she  lelt  herself 
an  alien,  was  a  shock. 

••  I  11  help  von.  said  French.  ••  \\  hat  do  von 
sav  to  our  swearing  oil  together'.'1  \  oil  remind 
me.  and  I  11  remind  vou.  and  we  11  have  tor  our 
watchword  *  Magnet. 

*•  I  think  I  'd  rather  you  didn't  swear  off."  said 
Alihea  plaintively.  "I'd  like  something  to  re 
mind  me  of  home." 

'•  No  danger,  '  returned  French.  <jmte  aware  that 
lie  had  hurt  her.  and  half-regretting  it.  now  the 
operation  was  over.  '••Von  ve  started  to  tell  me 
once  or  twice  about  the  tea-tight  between  vou  and 
Mrs.  Darling,  and  I  "ve  always  interrupted  you." 

"  It  was  nothing,'  returned  Miss  ( Ja\  lord  spirit 
lessly.  *•  She  wanted  me  to  go  into  vour  room 
and  brinti'  the  tea-things,  a.nd  I  would  n't." 


A    NEW   LEAF  Si) 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

The  girl  raised  her  eyebrows.  "  Because  I  'in 
not  a  burglar." 

"  Is  that  what  you  told  her  ?  " 

tw  Xo ;  I  told  her  I  had  never  been  in  your 
room." 

"  What !  " 

"  Are  you  astonished  ?  " 

French  was  exceedingly  astonished,  more  so 
than  it  would  have  been  polite  to  confess. 

"  She  would  n't  believe  me  at  first.  I  did  n't 
tell  her  that  you  declined  to  enter  my  parlor  as 
obstinately  as  if  1  were  the  original  spider  herself. 
I  simply  refused  her  request  in  language  that 
would  n't  give  the  smallest  baby  a  whiff  of  oxy 
gen."  Althea  spoke  with  an  assumption  of  indif 
ference,  and  she  suddenly  rose.  A  light  flashed  in 
her  eyes.  "  I  can  do  it  occasionally,  if  I  am  — 
damaged."  Her  voice  broke,  and  she  slipped  from 
the  room. 

Quick  as  thought  French  sprang  after  her.  The 
hall  was  deserted,  and  the  economical  gas-jet 
burned  low.  He  succeeded  in  reaching  the  foot 
of  the  stairs  as  she  did,  and  placed  himself  in  her 
path. 

"  You  must  n't  go  like  this,"  he  said. 

"  Let  me  by  at  once !  "  exclaimed  the  girl  thickly. 

"  You  know  I  only  meant  to  help  you,"  he  an 
swered  ;  and,  against  her  will,  Althea  liked  his 
voice  and  his  attitude,  and  knew  he  spoke  truth. 


-•  Don't  l»i'  Hilary.  It'  I  were  n't  your  friend,  what 
should  I  care  what  you  said  or  did?'  lit-  tried 
to  take  her  hand. 

••  i  )on  ;  toiii-h  mi'!  said  the  Li'irl  breathlessly, 
star:  MIL;'  back.  -•  "lou  will  lind  I  am  not  a  u'ood 
enough  fellow  tor  that. 

••  I  \visli  1  ha.d  n  t  hurt  your  feelings,  "  he  re 
turned  beseecbin^'ly. 

They  "were  both  speaking  in  undertones,  and  lie 
was  afraid  each  second  that  some  one  would  come 
into  the  hall  and  lind  them.  ••  It  's  ab.-;ird  enough 
for  me  to  preach.  I  know  it."  lie  sweryed 
toward  the  banister,  and.  like  a  bird  that  sees  the 
loop-hole  ol  escape.  Althea  Hew  past  him.  and  he 
did  not  a'ieinpi  to  follow.  lie  staved  at  the  door 
handle  meditatively. 

••  Now   I   suppose  she  "11  cry."  he  thought. 

Hut  Miss  (iaylord  did  not  cry  at  once.  She 
locked  her  door,  turned  up  her  li.^'ht.  vigorously 
pulled  the  slants-box  off  its  hook  and  flung  it  into 
the  grate,  a  few  coins  jingling  in  the  overthrow, 
threw  open  a  window  and  sent  her  eandv-ho\  th 
ing  in  sucli  wise  that  the  Boston  cats  talked  the 
rest  of  the  night  about  the  wild  hailstorm  which 
had  scattered  them  and  fluffed  their  tails.  Then 
she  cast  a  glance  at  the  mendacious  cherry  chif 
fonier  which  was  her  bed.  longed  for  her  own 
white,  luxurious,  brass-bound  couch  at  home, 
dropped  into  a  rocking-chair,  and  took  her  burning 
cheeks  between  her  hands. 


A    NEW   LEAF  91 

"•  I  hate  Boston,  and  everybody  in  it ! "  she 
thought. 

Then  she  rocked. 

"  But  I  won't  go  home." 

She  rocked  more. 

u  And  acknowledge  myself  beaten." 

The  last  word  started  in  her  head  an  old  rhyme, 

"  A  woman,  a  doi;1.  and  a  walnut  tree, 
The  more  you  beat  them,  the  better  they  be." 

She  rocked  to  the  rhythm  of  this  for  a  while, 
although  its  sense,  or  nonsense,  did  not  in  the 
least  suit  her  mood. 

She  could  hear  French  in  the  next  room  as  he 
moved  about,  getting  ready  to  go  out. 

"  And  where  he  is  going  all  the  girls  have  the 
bloom  on,"  she  thought.  k'  How  about  Mrs.  Dar 
ling,  that  he  likes  so  much,  and  flatters,  and  flirts 
with,  I  've  no  doubt  ?  " 

In  her  inmost  heart,  however,  she  did  not 
deceive  herself.  She  felt  that  French  did  not 
admire  Mrs.  Darling ;  but  there  would  be  Mar 
garet  Carruth,  and  other  girls  like  her,  —  gentle, 
refined,  with  no  abruptness.  He  would  talk  to 
them  all  the  evening,  dance  with  them,  perhaps. 

Althea's  eyes  glowed  in  her  musing.  "  They 
talk  pearls  and  diamonds,"  she  thought,  and  her 
chair  stopped  rocking.  "  There  is  n't  one  of  them 
who  would  n't  as  lieve  say  '  damn  '  as  '  swipe.'  ' 
She  said  this  aloud,  and  sprang  to  her  feet,  feel 
ing  bitterly,  strangely  alone. 


Half  the  iii^'ht  through  she  tossed  ami  turned. 
••  \\  liv  t/o  I  care  so  much  ''.  '  she  kept  asking  her 
self.  "  There  are  plenty  of  people  who  do  approve 
of  me. 

Slu-  heai'd  French  let  himself  in  and  come  up  to 
his  room.  "One  tiling'  sure,  she  thought  fever 
ishly,  "  I  '11  never  let  him  know  again  that  L 
care.  —  never  ! 

At  the  breakfast-tahle  the  circles  around  her 
eyes  were  the  more  noticeable  tor  her  cheerful 
manner.  I  suallv  Miss  (iavlord  was  verv  non 
committal  at  eight  A.  .M.  This  morning  she  talked, 
even  rallying  French  on  the  late  hour  at  which  his 
night-key  lifted  into  the  lock'. 

lie  received  her  remarks  with  his  usual  formal 
courtesy  :  hut  she  thought  he  seemed  Mirprised  l>v 
her  self-possession. 

"He'll  find  out!"  she  thought  triumphantly, 
as  she  went  hack  upstairs  to  her  room.  ••  I  shall 
treat  him  well,  but  —  with  a  difference! 

In  the  middle  of  the  morning',  while  Althea  \\as 
practicing  at  the  piano,  a  florist  s  box  was  handed 
in  at  her  door.  Her  heart  beat  faster  as  she  un 
wrapped  it.  for  she  suspected  its  significance.  ••  It 
can't  alter  facts,'  she  thought,  as  she  untied  the 
string  with  unsteady  fingers,  "lie  said  what  he 
thought  was  the  truth,  and  since  he  does  think 
that"  —the  cover  came  off.  and  the  tissue  paper, 
and  hunches  of  violets,  sweet  and  dewy,  were 
revealed. 


A    NEW  LEAF  93 

"  Treat  him  well,  but  —  with  a  difference,"  she 
thought  mechanically.  She  picked  French's  card 
out  of  the  box.  On.  the  back  of  it  was  scribbled  : 
kt  I  have  hurt  myself  more  than  I  have  you. 
Won't  you  let  it  amount  to  something  ?  " 

Althea  thought  long,  and  smelled  of  the  violets. 

O  O  ' 

Sweet,  modest,  quiet  little  flowers  !  "Why  had  he 
selected  them  ? 

w-  It  is  n't  your  fault,"  she  said  to  them  at  last, 
and  she  put  them  in  water.  Then,  after  more 
hesitation,  she  picked  up  the  box.  It  was  rather 
small,  about  the  size  of  the  one  in  the  grate.  At 
last  she  punched  a  hole  through  its  side  with  the 
scissors,  and  stuck  it  on  the  empty  nail.  Then 
she  went  back  to  her  practicing. 

Somehow  it  would  n't  go.  Her  hand  was  tired. 
Her  thoughts  were  still  riotous.  "  I  '11  take  a 
walk,"  she  decided  ;  and  arraying  herself,  she  went 
out  of  doors  and  betook  herself  to  a  shopping 
district. 

An  hour  afterward  Willard  French  at  his  desk 
was  interrupted  by  an  office-boy  who  handed  him 
a  small  box. 

He  opened  it  without  suspicion,  for  he  had 
never  seen  the  writing  which  addressed  it. 

In  folds  of  tissue  paper  he  felt  something  hard. 
Curiously  he  unfolded  it,  and  came  upon  a  toy 
magnet,  the  steel  clinging  close  to  its  arms. 

Around  it  was  curled  a  bit  of  writing  paper, 
and  on  this  was  written,  "  United  we  stand  !  " 


94 

French  smiled.  :ui<!  after  pixin^1  :it  it  a  minut;  . 
lie  slipped  \>o\  and  contents  into  a  drawer. 

Althea  s  lui^nonne  face  kept  coining  between 
him  and  Ins  li^nres  that  morning. 

••  And  >he  would  n  t  L;O  into  mv  room  for 
Molly,"  \vas  the  irrelevant  a.ddition  his  thoughts 
made  to  each  column. 


CHAPTER  VII 

A    VOYAGE    OF    DISCOVERY 

Miss  BEEBE,  looking  upon  Miss  Gaylord's 
career  in  Boston  as  largely  the  work  of  her  own 
hands,  had  no  mind  to  lose  sight  of  it,  although 
Althea  proved  but  a  coy  correspondent. 

Miss  Luella  wrote  to  the  girl  voluminously  on 
thin  paper  with  pale  ink,  and  it  was  a  mercy  that 
she  never  knew  the  sort  of  reception  those  closely- 
written  lines  met  in  Xewbury  Street.  Althea 
gave  desperate  glances  at  the  devious  twistings 
with  which  the  thread  of  Miss  Beebe's  discourse 
wound  in  and  out  the  pages  of  two  or  three  sheets, 
sometimes  leaping  from  first  to  third,  sometimes 
beginning  on  the  fourth  and  continuing  —  whither? 
The  girl  had  110  interest  to  find  out. 

"  There  !  if  you  can  translate  Miss  Beebe's  let 
ters  for  me,"  she  said  with  sudden  inspiration,  to 
Willard  French  in  the  early  days  of  her  stay, 
"  you  '11  be  a  guide,  philosopher,  and  friend  worth 
having.  I  '11  let  you  off  from  ever  going  for  the 
doctor  at  midnight.  I've  studied  on  the  thing  for 
ten  minutes,  and  I  'in  all  balled  up.  I  'm  going 
to  jump  the  job." 

This   being   before    the    era   of  the  slang-box, 


French  took-  the  leiter  in  silence  and  whistled 
softly  as  lie  regarded  il->  inlerliiied  pages. 

"  \\  hv  d«e>  n  t  >he  \vrite  to  von.  I  "d  like  to 
kno\\ • '.'  "  said  Mi>s  (lavlord  aggrievedlv. 

••  l!'  voti  ever  mention  such  a  tiling  !  "  ejaculated 
\\  illai'd.  with  va^'iie  threatening. 

••  ^  on  11  have  to  he  good  to  me  then,  or  else  1 
shall  tell  her  voti  re  jealous. 

••  Name  the  goodness  von  demand,  and  you  -hall 
have  it  it'  it  "s  in  t  he  market  ! 

••  Fir>1  of  all.  read  that   letter." 

"•  1  don  t  heheve  I  can.  >aid  French  helplessly. 
turning  over  the  slippery  sheets.  "Where  does 
the  thin^  begin  '!  " 

"That  s  it.  said  Miss  (Jaylord  triumphantly. 
'•  \\"here  does  it  7  What  did  I  tell  you?" 

••  1  guess  von  d  better  he  contented  \\ith  small 
things.  scraps,  as  it  were.  I  "11  read  anywhere  I 
can.  If  I  see  a  head,  hit  it.  von  know. 

"  That  11  suit  me  —  just  samples  to  answer  it 
from." 

"•  ^  on  're  going-  to  answer  it  ?  said  French, 
relieved.  ••  That  s  a  good  girl.  '  lie  much  feared 
that  if  Althea  did  not  give  an  account  of  herself, 
lie  would  he  the  next  one  appealed  to. 

"Of  course  I  shall  have  to  write  to  her.  if  only 
to  tell  her  not  to  he  partial  to  me,  right  in  the 
same  house  with  von. 

French  looked  np  with  such  lire  in  his  eve  that 
Althea  lani/hed  wickedlv. 


A    VOYAGE    OF    DISCOVERY  97 

"  Tlie  bargain 's  off,"  he  announced,  throwing 
down  the  letter,  which  promptly  floated  and  slid 
off  in  three  directions. 

"  No,  no,  it  is  n't !  "  said  Miss  Gaylord,  with 
hasty  contrition.  "  You  '11  find  there  is  n't  any 
sharp  serpent's  tooth  about  me.  I  'm  not  a  thank 
less  child." 

Upon  which  AVillard  again  gathered  up  the 
fragments  of  Miss  Luella's  discourse  and  spread 
out  the  sheets  like  a  fan. 

"  I  I'm,  h'm  !  "  he  mused.  "  Here  's  something  : 
'  Pa's  rheumatism  is  brighter  '  -  —  no,  no  !  —  *  bet 
ter  than  last  year.' ' 

"As  if  I  cared  !  "  remarked  Althea. 

"  Well,  you  ought  to.  Rheumatism  is  the 
deuce.  1  had  it  once  after  a  game  of  football." 

'•  ;  I    hope    Boston    climate    argues  '     -  no,  — 
k  agrees  with  you.     Remember  what  I  shall '  — 110, 
—  '  said,  about  —  orchestras.' '' 

"  She  never  said  a  word  about  orchestras.  I 
don't  believe  she  knows  an  oboe  from  a  hobo." 

French  knotted  his  brow  for  a  mighty  effort. 
"  '  Orchestras  '  ?  No,  it  is  n't ;  it  's  '  overshoes.' 
'  Remember  what  I  said  about  overshoes.'  " 

"  Chestnuts  !  "  observed  Althea,      "  Go  on." 

"  Oh,  yes  !  Go  on  !  "  repeated  French,  with 
biting  sarcasm.  "  Very  easy  to  say  !  "  He  bent 
to  his  task  with  straining  brow.  "  The  next  four 
lines  are  written  in  Greek,"  he  announced  at  last, 
with  the  calmness  of  despair.  "  I  did  n't  know 


Miss  Luella  \v;is  up  to  it.  Mine  is  rusty.  I  shall 
have  to  skip  it.  II  111  !  h  in  !  \\  hat  comes  next. 
now  7  •  The  -  call  —  hot  --  iire  '  -  whv.  that 
does  n  t  mean  anything  ! 

••And  there  aren't  any  cal>s  in  Spring-dale. 
Mi^'ht  n't  it  lie  •  cat '  ?  " 

•••('at'  Oh  yes!"  relieved,  ••('at.  -  Tin- 
cat -----  had —  iive  —kittens"  There,  Miss  Beebe 
can  write  -kittens  !  adunrin^'lv.  "  She  or.^'it  to 
write  that  word  for  a  Jiving:  •  ]>ast  •--•  \\eep,'  " 

••  •  Last  week,"  ptose  !  I  should  think  vou 
could  use  vour  imagination  some  ! 

Possibly  French  thought  this  a  laltor-savin^' sii^'- 
gvstion  worth  considering.  At  all  events,  he  went 
on  swimmingly.  '•  '  I  suppose  von  have  entireU 
^'iven  up  slant;'  since  you  reached  Boston. 

'•  Hold  \our  horses,  niv  friend  '.  She  doesn't 
know  I  use  ativ.  Ha,  ha!  I  caught  vou!  It 
strained  the  ^'nn  av.i'ully.  hut  1  was  duml>  in 
Spring'dalc.  Stick  to  business,  voun^1  man  ! 

French  ohedieutU  stammei'ed  on.  ••  '  i  hope 
---vou  havcnt  had  to  —  twinkle  no  —  -trou 
ble,  Mr.'  —  no —  ;  Mrs.  Oarruth,  or  her  daugh 
ter."  " 

'•Rats!"  commented  Althea. 

"•  •  Loving  Mr.  French  as  vou  do  —he  looked 
u]>  with,  an  appreciative  smile.  ••  Oh.  I  don  t 
know,"  he  remarked.  ••  Reading'  your  letter.-, 
is  n't  so  had  ! 

'•  AVhy.  of  course,  you  can  compose  if  you  think 


A     I'OVAdK    OF    DISCOVERY  99 

it  is  so  funny,''  remarked  Miss  Gay  lord,  with  pink 
cheeks. 

"  No,  it 's  here,  for  a  fact ;  but  I  '11  hurry  on." 

"  Yes,  and  cabs  were  there,  and  hot  fires. 
Yon  're  an  expert,  you  arc.  You  "d  better  hurry 
back  instead  of  on.  Show  me  the  place." 

They  put  their  heads  together  over  the  sheet. 

"  That 's  k  having,'  "  said  Althea  ;  and  then  she 
read  :  '•  *  Having  Mr.  French  as  you  do,  close  by, 
I  am  in  hops '  ( *  hopes,'  I  suppose)  •  he  can  give 
you  —  whiskey  '  —  they  both  laughed. 

'•  If  that  other  is  hops,  this  must  be  '  beer,'  not 
'whiskey,'  "  suggested  French. 

u  Well,  I  can  just  tell  her  I  should  never  have 
anything  but  milk  if  you  had  your  way,"  retorted 
Miss  Gay  lord.  "•  That  next  word  is  '  aid.'  Oh, 
I  see  —  '  whatever  aid  you  need.'  Oh  !  there  's 
no  use  in  going  on.  It  will  only  be  a  rehash  of 
great  Carruth  and  good  French.  I  know  it  like 
a  song.  I  will  send  her  a  note  that  might  have 
come  out  of  the  •  Complete  Letter  Writer,'  and 
she  '11  never  know  the  difference." 

But  Miss  Ik'ebe  did  know  the  difference.  She 
was  disappointed  by  the  brief,  uncommunicative, 
and  proper  little  notes  which  Althea  sent  her. 

"  It 's  a  pity  the  child  is  so  self-contained,"  she 
thought.  "  It  was  just  the  same  here.  It  seemed 
hard  always  for  her  to  express  herself." 

Miss  Luella  corresponded  also  with  Mrs.  Car 
ruth  at  rare  intervals,  and  from  her  she  learned 


that    Miss  (lavlord   li;id   l»een  ;it   her  hoa-e  mid  tliat 
she  and   \\  illard   French  seemed  on  tnt  ndlv  icrnis. 

Miss  !>eel>e  was  a  ^tirrniL;'  individual,  and  her 
monotonous  id'e  palled  upon  her  very  often.  She 
*••  took  lon^'iiiu'  tits  for  Hoslon.  a>  -he  expressed 
it.  espeeialh  for  the  shoppin^-yTound.  win-re  ••  liar- 
<j'aiii>  "  had  for  her  an  irresistible  fascination. 

\\  hen  the  mood  lieeaine  too  stroiiL;'.  she  '_ven- 
erallv  made  some  temporary  arrangement  to  secure 
Jier  fatlier  s  comfort  and  took  passage  tor  the 
haven  of  her  desires. 

She  liad  a  standing  invilaiion  at  the  Carrutlis", 
lint  sh.e  did  not  alwavs  avail  herseit  of  it.  If  -he 
sto])])ed  at  a  hotel.  >he  lelt  the  greater  freedom  To 
haunt  the  (lr\-i^'oods  stores  :  and  M  charmed  her 
to  lunch  at  rotaurauts  ;uid  eat  Nesscli-ode  piui 
ding'. 

One  of  Aithea's  eonsei'vative  letters  started  the 
u  l<)ii^'in<j  tit  one  dav. 

'•  If  >he  onh  would  take  time  to  tell  me  ho\\ 
she's  n'ot  Ip-r  i-ooni  tixed  up.  or  how  she  eii]o\'s 
the  Symphonies,  or  what  she  thinks  of  the  (,'ar- 
ruths  !  she  complained  upon  finishing  Miss  (ray- 
lord's  three  pa^'es  :  and  then  Miss  Litella  tell  to 
musing  upon  whether  a  cei'tam  one  ot  her  neigh 
bors  could  come  into  her  house  and  lake  the  reins 
for  a  few  days.  \\  he:i  she  u'ot  as  tar  as  this  she 
knew,  herself,  that  she  \\as  L;'oi;i^  to  \ield.  It 
jniu'ht  take  some  davs  ot  reconsidering,  hut  1:1  the 
end  she  \vould  u'()  to  Boston. 


A     VOYAGE    Or    DISCOVERY  KM. 

This  time  her  desires  were  helped  on  by  the 
arrival  of  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Carruth,  which  came 
soon  after  Althea's. 

"  I  have  been  wishing  lately  that  you  lived  near 
enough  for  me  to  talk  to  you  occasionally,"  it  said. 
'•  In  some  moods  nobody  can  take  the  place  of 
an  old  friend,  one  whose  memories  of  twenty-live 
years  ago  are  the  same  as  your  own  ;  and  I  have 
very  few  such  friends,  Luella." 

A  feeling  of  elated  affection  swelled  Miss  Bee- 
be's  breast.  It  was  something  to  hold  a  unique 
position  of  friendship  with  Mrs.  Richard  Carruth. 
It  is  to  be  feared  that  old  Mr.  Beebe's  rheumatism 
would  have  needed  to  be  very  bad  to  keep  her 
now,  faithful  daughter  as  she  was. 

"  Emeline  needs  me.  That  is  plain.  If  she, 
whose  whole  life  is  spent  doing  for  others,  wants 
something  from  somebody  else  occasionally,  she 
ought  to  have  it.'' 

So  Miss  Beebe  packed  her  bag,  dressed  in  her 
best  black  silk  and  her  solid  gold  jewelry,  and 
took  the  train  for  Boston  with  as  happy  and 
excited  a  heart  as  was  ever  carried  by  a  young- 
girl  out  for  a  holiday. 

The  Carriiths  gave  her  the  usual  welcome,  and 
she  ensconced  herself  in  the  chamber  which  was 
always  hers  when  she  came,  with  a  feeling  of  im 
portance  and  satisfaction  in  her  circumstances 
which  queens  might  envy. 

She  was  not  without  tact,  and  her  perceptions 


led  her  not    to    question     her   luisy  hostess    or  ur^e 
her  to  t;i!k. 

"I'm  ri"Ji!  here  now.  ;in<l  if  Kmeline  wants 
me,  she'll  -peak."  she  thought  discreetly.  "One 
of  inv  first  duties,  she  said  to  Mrs.  ('arruth.  ••  is 
to  see  Althea  (iaylord  and  find  out  |ii-t  ho\\ 
things  ai'e  \vith  her.  so  i  ea.n  write  her  mother." 

Mrs.  (YiiTuth  smiled  at  Margaret,  tor  they  had 
.had  some  amusing'  discussions  regarding  the  Den 
ver  oirl. 

•-  It    seems  that     Mrs.     Darling    was    already    a 
friend  of    Mi--    (Javlord's    before    -he    e;une  here, 
remarked     Margaret,    \vho    sat     near    Miss    Heche, 
cut ;  hii;'  t!ie  leaves  of  a  magazine,  while  her  in 
was  clearing'  out   her  writin^-desk. 

••  \  ou  don  1  suv  so  !  returned  'he  httie  woman. 
-•  I  must  say.  Altiiea  is  the  worst  letter-writer  I 
ever  met  i;i  m\  life!  To  think  .-he  should  never 
tell  me  that  siie  kne\v  .Mrs.  Darling!  !'(  rhaps." 
added  Miss  !>eel)e.  --she  knew  tliat  I  shouldn't 
fully  approve  of  anvtliin^1  th.at  would  tempt  her  to 
late  hours,  and  Mrs.  Darling's  hot  friend.-  must 
admit  that  she  does  n  f  like  a  (|uiet  life. 

Miss  Luella  finished  tentatively.  She  had  her 
own  opinion  of  the  lively  Mollv.  and  it  was  a  very 


follow    the    example     of    her     hosts     in     retraining 
from  comment  upon  her. 

••I  jud^e  Althea   hasn't  troubled   you   much  v 
she  went  on. 


A    VOYAGE    OF   DISCOVERY  103 

"  Oh,  not  at  all,"  replied  Margaret. 

"  I  warned  her,"  said  Miss  Beebe  virtuously. 
"  I  tried  to  make  her  understand." 

"  She  seems  like  a  very  independent  girl,"  said 
Mrs.  Carruth.  '*  I  hope  her  winter's  experiment 
will  be  a  successful  one.  I  should  n/t  like  to  think 
of  Margaret  a  thousand  miles  away  in  a  strange 
city,  with  no  one  to  look  after  her ;  but  I  know 
mothers  are  unselfishly  doing  that  thing  every 
day." 

Miss  Beebe  bridled  a  little.  "  Why,  I  have  an 
eye  to  Althea  myself  !  " 

Mrs.  Carruth  smiled.  "  Your  eyesight  must  be 
excellent,  Luella." 

k%  I  assure  you  it 's  a  great  comfort  to  Mrs. 
Gay  lord  to  know  that  I  stand  ready." 

li  Xo  doubt.     Moral  support  is  a  great  thing." 

tv  And  if  Margaret  were  in  Althea's  place," 
went  on  Miss  Beebe,  who  did  not  like  to  have  the 
arrangements  upon  which  she  had  so  prided  her 
self  unappreciated,  "  she  would  have  Willard 
French  at  her  elbow,  you  must  remember." 

Mrs.  Carruth  wiped  the  dust  from  the  far  cor 
ner  of  a  pigeon-hole.  "  It  might  be,  though,"  she 
suggested,  "  that  Willard  would  n't  be  the  man 
whom  I  should  wish  Margaret  to  fall  in  love 
with." 

"  To  fall  in  love  with !  "  ejaculated  Miss  Beebe, 
aghast,  and  had  the  dark,  close-curled  locks  on  her 
forehead  had  a  little  more  intimate  relation  with 


101 

]\  •':•  seal}),  thev  would  have  ri>e:i  1:1  protest.  ••  \\  ii;it 
do  v;m  iiicii  .1 ,  {']',}••  -iiin1  '.' 

••  Nothii)"1:     only    such    thing's    do    lumpen.    \on 

•  . 

know:    and  vou  ha\e  smoothed  the  wav  th:-  time.' 

••  1  '.'  [•()!•  pitv  .-  -ake  !  exelahned  Mi--  I,nc!la 
in  a  tremor.  ••  \Vhv.  1  shall  u'o  to  lied  nick  if  von 
sav  such  tilings!  Have  vou  noticed  anvthinn1? 
i  )o  you  i  h;nk  it  ha  <  has  happened  '!  "  She 
turned  her  iiead  in  jerks,  like  a  Frightened  liird. 
iVoiii  mother  to  daughter,  and  oaek  a^ain.  with 
such  sincere  ti'(-j)idation  ihai  Marpirel  laughed. 

••  1  think  mother  is  teasing  von.   Mi--   IJeehe." 

kv  \\  hv.  she  came  here.  said  Mi<s  Luella  m 
dismavc'd  ])>-;>te-st.  "she  eamc  here  to  -tudv  to 
.  and  for  nothing  el-e.  nothing  else.  1  can  t 
think  that  >!ie  \\ouhi  he  so  She  seavelied  ioi1 

a  v.ord.  and  (inally  decided  on  ••  unreasonaMe  •  as 
to  to  \\  h\".  I  nni-!  n'o  to  see  her  at  once! 

M  iss   I  Jee'oe  sjirann1  r,j). 

'•  \  on  must  11  t  think  so  much  oi  a  mere  tk"_dit 
ol  mv  imagination.  said  Mrs.  Carrnth.  ••  \\  e 
don  t  know  Miss  (iavlord  \\ell  at  all:  and  as  tor 
Willard,  prohalilv  such  an  idea  is  as  remote  from 
his  mind  as  it  was  from  \<»ur>. 

'•  I  must  :4'o  to  see  her."  repeated  Miss  Luella 
nervous!  v. 

••  Well,  lie  careful.'  Mrs.  Carrnth  laughed. 
••  Ivememlx'i'  the  mother  who  told  her  child  that 
lie  must  never  put  beans  in  Ins  nose.  He  had 
never  thought  of  such  a  thin"  until  thai  moment. 


A    VOYAGE    OF   DISCOVERS  105 

then  the  suggestion  fascinated  him.  Be  care 
ful." 

u  Oh,  1  shall  be,''  returned  Miss  Luella  de 
voutly. 

If  Althea's  fate  were  of  interest  to  her  before, 
now  it  was  far  more  so.  This  young',  innocent, 
inexperienced  girl  had  been  brought  to  the  great 
city  and  placed  by  Miss  Beebe  herself  in  a  posi 
tion  where  her  closest  friend  was  a  young  man  of 
marriageable  age ! 

Miss  Beebe,  as  she  tripped  along  the  street,  con 
sidered  French  from  this  new  standpoint.  She 
recalled  again  that  he  was  twenty-six  years  old, 
and  attractive. 

Suddenly  a  thought  arrested  her.  She  stood 
still  on  the  sidewalk.  u  Emeline  said  he  wouldn't 
be  the  man  she  would  wish  Margaret  to  fall  in 
love  with.  I  ought  to  have  questioned  her.  AVhat 
did  she  mean  ?  " 

Oh  !  this  was  all  very  romantic,  and  Miss  Beebe 
was  delieiously  miserable  and  very  much  excited. 
She  had  brought  this  about  herself  —  herself! 
What  would  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gay  lord  say!  They 
had  money,  though  French  had  n't.  Yes,  it  was 
fervently  to  be  hoped  that  Mrs.  Carruth  was 
wrong,  and  that  Althea  was  still  the  same  passive, 
steady,  unemotional  girl  who  had  left  her  a  few 
weeks  ago  in  Spring-dale. 

Arrived  at  the  boarding-house,  Miss  Beebe 
found  that  her  protegee  had  gone  out  to  take  her 


mnsic-ir.-s on.       l  nc    in:) 

turn    soon,  M>    (he    visitor    was    >ho\vn    up    io    Miss 

Gavlord  s  room,  \\here  she  laid  off  her  jacket. 

She  recalled  (lie  ia.-t  time  she  \\as  here,  and  her 
visit  \\ii!>  I'Yench.  She  remembered  thai  iir  had 
not  been  very  cordial  witli  regard  to  the  advent  of 
Althea.  and  that  --lie  had  reproached  him.  V.\v 
they  had  heeii  near  neighbors  for  a  sufficient 
length  oi  lime  fov  him  to  kno\\  .M!>s  (la.xlord  far 
l)etter  than  .Miss  !>(-el»e  lier.M-lf  did.  She  could 
not  have  been  convinced  ihal  .<n\  one  ci  Id  >\\ 
\\'illard  lu'ttcr  ll:an  she  did.  \\'Iicn  one  lias  li\cd 
next  door  to  a  liov  ior  ve-ii's.  furnished  him  on 
nianv  oceiisions  \\n'i  Uread  ;;:,d  hntter  and  jam, 
scolded  him.  petted  him.  even  on  one  orca>ion 
spanked  him.  it  is  n  t  to  lie  expected  lhat  one 
should  admit  that  any  acquaintance  of  a  fe\\  \\eelc.s 
eoiild  supersede  her. 

She  looked  around  the  room  approvingly.  It 
was  a  typical  hoarding  -  house  apartment,  except 
that  on  a  dressing-table  \\cre  numerous  todct 


a  little  tea-table  with  a  kettle  and  three  cups  and 
saucers. 

"•She's  just  as  neat  as  a  pin.  Althea  is." 
thought  the  visitor.  "That  ^'oes  with  her  sober. 
demure  little  face  and  ways.  She  ou^ht  to  have 
lived  in  I'uritan  times." 

•lust  here  Miss  I'eebe  cauii'ht  si^lit  oi  a.  "paste 
board  box  nailed  to  the  w;di,  and  regarded  it  ciiri- 


A    VOYAGE    OF   DISCOVERY  107 

ously.  It  had  a  slit  in  the  top.  "  I  wonder  what 
that 's  for  ?  "  she  thought. 

A  voice  suddenly  sounded,  singing1  up  the  stairs 
a  popular  song  of  the  day,  and  Althea  came  into 
the  room,  throwing  her  music-roll  into  a  chair 
before  she  saw  Miss  Luella. 

Miss  Gaylord  started.  "  Great  —  Miss  Beebe  !  " 
she  exclaimed.  '•  How  you  scared  me  !  " 

She  received  her  guest's  effusive  kiss  with  faint 
return.  "  Why,  I  did  n't  even  know  you  were 
coming  to  Boston ! ' 

~ 

"  Of  course  not.  I  wanted  to  surprise  you,  my 
dear,  and  I  did,  did  n't  I  ?  You  write  such  short, 
unsatisfactory  letters,  I  had  to  come  myself  and 
see  what  you  were  doing,  and  how  you  were 
doing  it." 

4i  It  is  very  good  of  you,"  said  Althea,  remov 
ing  her  hat.  "  My  life  is  n't  so  wildly  interesting 
that  it  will  take  you  long  to  hear  about  it." 

Her  guest  was  regarding  her  with  curious  scru 
tiny.  *"•  Why,  I  can  see  already  that  it  is  agree 
ing  with  you  here.  You  look  as  bright  as  a  dollar. 
I  shall  be  able  to  write  your  mother  nice  things 
about  you  ;  but  I  suppose  you  tell  her  everything 
that  happens  to  you  ?  " 

"  Pretty  nearly." 

"  Why  not  everything  ?  "  inquired  Miss  Luella 
quickly. 

"  Oh,"  -  Althea  shrugged  her  shoulders,  — 
"  art  is  long  and  time  is  fleeting,  you  know,  and  I 


IDS 

have  to  practice  u  lot."  Her  guest  was  looking  at 
licr  scrntini/inglv,  vet  w.th  --ueli  kindly  eagerness 
that  the  girl  smiled  as  she  seated  herself. 

••  V\  el!,  I  in  glad  to  know  somebody  gi  ts  good 
letters  from  you.  sighed  Miss  Luella. 

'•  \  es.  I  know  I  in  had.  I  wonder  you  don  t 
droj)  me  altogether. 

••  Indeed,  my  dear,  I  have  i;  t  so  manv  interests 
MI  this  world  that  I  can  afford  to  do  that."  'There 
was  something  in  the  na'i've  lionesty  of  tlie  reply 
that  touched  Allhea. 

l-  You  "11  find  1  can  talk  faster  than  1  can  write." 
she  responded. 

'•  Thou  tell  me  alxmt  yourself,  said  Mi»  IVelie, 
settling1  hack  comfortably  in  hei-  chair  and  begin 
ning  to  rock,  ••  i'irst.  \our  room.  It  turns  out 
pretty  well,  does  n  t  it  7 

"  Oh.  yes." 

tw  You  've  made  it  look"  I'eal  ])retty.  I  've  l>eeii 
taking  an  invontorv  while  I  \\aited  for  \ou:  but 
what  's  that  box  for  on  the  wall?  It  looks  a-,  if 
yon  had  a  niekel-in-the-slot  arrangement." 

Miss  Gavlord  nodded.  "That  is  lor  frogs  and 
snakes,  she  replied. 

Miss  !>eebe"s  chair  nearly  overturned  in  the 
violent  retreat  of  its  rockers. 

The  girl's  eyes  twinkled.  •'  Drop  a  nickel  in 
the  slot  and  see  them  come  out.'  she  drawled, 
laughing. 

"  \\  hat  are  you  talking  about,  you  cra/v  child  '!  " 


A    VOYAGE    OF  DISCOVERY  109 

"  Well,  that  's  what  Mr.  French  calls  them. 
It  's  only  a  slang-box,  Miss  Beebe,  —  a  box  for 
my  fines." 

u  Is  that  boy  teaching-  you  slang  ? "  Miss 
Luella's  tone  was  severe. 

"  No,  indeed.  lie  wants  me  to  use  the  English 
language  instead  of  American  slanguage.  At 
least,  so  he  says." 

"  I  rather  guess  there  's  no  danger,"  said  Miss 
Beebe,  bridling.  "  lie  'd  better  throw  his  pipe 
out  the  window  before  he  criticises  you,  I  think. 
As  if  yon  would  ever  be  a  slangy  girl !  " 

Althea  colored  and  looked  interestedly  out  at 
the  sky.  "  I  hope  it  won't  occur  to  her  to  shake 
that  box,"  she  thought. 

"  Now  you  're  going  to  play  to  me,  are  n't 
you  ?  "  said  the  guest,  settling  back  again  in  anti 
cipation. 

"  I  'm  sorry  I  can't.  I  'in  only  digging  away 
at  exercises  yet.  You  won't  find  anything  but  a 
chrysalis  here.  You  '11  have  to  go  over  to  the 
Carruths'  for  the  full-fledged  butterfly.  Is  n't 
Miss  Carruth's  playing  out  of  sight  ?  " 

"  As  the  boys  say,"  added  Miss  Luella,  with  a 
little  apologetic  clearing  of  her  throat,  "  as  Wil- 
larcl  French  says,  most  likely,"  she  continued. 

Miss  Gaylord  opened  her  purse,  took  thence  a 
penny,  and  it  jingled  into  the  box.  "  That 's  the 
way  we  do  it,"  she  said  airily.  "  But  is  n't  Miss 
Carruth's  music  fascinating  ?  " 


1 10  A   <;ni:.\T  LOVE 

'•  Yes.  indeed.  I  often  think,  when  I  'm  at 
home  there,  with  nothing'  much  to  do  on  ;;  dull 
afternoon,  what  would  I  give  to  have  Margaret 
come  in  and  sing  all  my  blues  away  ! 

"  Sing  7  ()!i.  ves.  Mr.  French  savs  she  does: 
but  I  've  never  heard  her." 

'•  \\  hen  von  do.  vou  won't  forget  it."  said  Mi>s 
.I>eebe  impressively.  ••  I  was  glad  to  hear  von  had 
been  to  their  house.  \\  ell.  are  n  t  thev  splendid 
people?"  she  finished,  witli  that  awed  tone  in  her 
voice  which  Miss  (ia\lord  remembered  irrever 
ently. 

She  gave  an  off-hand  nod.  '"They've  been  verv 
good  to  me.  Miss  Magnet  's  a.  girl  after  my  own 
heart.  —  no."  added  . \lthea  honestly.  ••  I  mean 
she  "s  after  my  own  head.  I  admire  her.  I 
mean  to  see  a  lot  of  her. 

There  was  a  certain  rigidity  about  Miss  Lnella's 
pose.  "  You  can  hardly  hope  lor  that.  She  is  so 
occupied.'' 

"•  She  makes  time  for  me.  all  right."  responded 
.Miss  (iaylord  lightly.  "See  those  three  teacups? 
She  gave  them  to  me.  and  had  tea  with  me  a 
couple  of  days  ago.  She  said  she  brought  two  for 
company,  and  a  third  for  a  crowd. 

"I'm  pleased  to  hear  it.  —  pleased."  declared 
the  visitor. 

'•  I  think  the  crowd  may  possibly  be  Mr.  French 
sometimes  after  this. 

"  You  have  probably  grown  very  well  acquainted 


A    VOYAGE    OF   DISCOVERY  111 

with  Mr.  French  by  this  time,"  suggested  Miss 
Beel)e,  approaching  delicate  ground  cautiously. 

"  Why,  of  course,"  said  Althea  coolly.  "  He  's 
so  frightfully  proper,  though,  he  has  never  been 
in  here  yet.  Some  evening,  perhaps,  if  I  have 
Miss  Carruth  inside  and  the  maid  posted  outside, 
and  the  party  breaks  up  at  nine  o'clock,  he  may 
trust  himself  in  these  dominions." 

'•  Very  nice,"  observed  Miss  Luella  approv 
ingly.  "  "Willard  has  a  great  deal  of  nice  feeling." 
She  drew  herself  up  slightly.  ';  I  made  no  mis 
take  in  placing  you  here,  it  seems." 

"  So  far  as  he  is  concerned,  no  indeed,"  said 
Miss  Gaylord,  repressing  a  yawn.  "  We  speak  as 
we  pass  by,  but  not  much  more  than  that,  lie  is 
a  high-flyer  in  society,  while  I  am  strictly  a  woman 
of  business." 

"  And  are  happy  in  it,"  added  Miss  Beebe. 
This  indifference  might  be  assumed.  She  scruti 
nized  the  girl  closely. 

"  Yes,"  said  Althea,  casting  a  look  askance  at 
a  work  011  harmony  which  lay  on  the  piano,  "  as 
happv  as  anybody  can  be  who  has  to  steer  clear  of 
Consecutive  Fifths." 

"  All  Greek  to  me,  my  dear ;  but  do  tell  me 
now,  while  I  think  of  it,  how  you  came  to  know 
Mrs.  Darling." 

"At  a  resort  out  West." 

"Do  you  see  much  of  her?"  The  speaker's 
anxious  tone  was  not  lost  upon  her  companion. 


*•  \\  hv  7      Do  von  \vant  MIL'  to  cultivate  her'.'1  " 
Miss   IVehe  looked  mysterious. 

k-  I   don't    kiiou    jus1    ho\v    inueli   I    ou^lit    to    say. 
Altliea  :    hut   tins    much  I    surely  may.      Sin-    is  11  t 


is  liu,iit-iiimded.      >he  really  is. 

••  1  es.    I  'ye    discovered    1  hut    myself."    ohserved 
Altliea,  smiling  out  the  \viudo\v. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

CONFIDENCES 

Miss  BEEBE  returned  to  the  Carrutlis'  in  a  very 
cheerful  state  of  mind.  She  had  just  taken  off 
her  thing's  and  was  feeling  on  the  best  terms  with 
herself  and  the  world,  when  Mrs.  Carrnth  came 
into  her  room. 

"  Well,  Emeliiie,  my  child  is  all  right,"  she 
announced  brightly.  "  I  've  had  a  real  good  time 
with  her." 

Mrs.  Carruth  seated  herself  and  listened  as  her 
friend  talked  for  some  time  of  Althea's  parents 
and  their  circumstances. 

"  I  've  seen  pictures  of  their  home,  and  it  's 
elegant,"  said  Miss  Luella;  "and  I  do  think  when 
a  girl  is  willing  to  leave;  all  those  luxuries  and  go 
to  a  strange  city  and  live  alone  up  two  flights  of 
stairs  and  work  all  by  herself,  it  shows  a  good 
deal  of  character." 

"  Young  people  like  the  novelty,"  returned  Mrs. 
Carruth.  "  The  idea  looks  attractive  to  many  of 
them.  I  think  it  does  to  Margaret.  She  seems 
to  feel  an  interest  in  this  little  Althea  of  yours 
that  I  can  account  for  in  no  other  way." 

"  Well,  now,  that 's  good,  for  it  will  be  a  benefit 


to  Altliea  to  associate  with  Margaret,  and  it  won't 
do  Margaret  any  liana  to  get  away  from  fashion 
able  life  some. 

"  She  does  n  t  care  for  that,  von  know,  "  said 
Mrs.  Can-nth,  looking'  off  thoughtfully.  "Her 
heart  is  not  in  it." 

t¥  No.  I  did  n't  mean  in  the  sense  of  being 
wrapped  up  in  it.  I  know  well  enough  that  you 
and  she  spend  a  groat  part  of  vour  lives  in  far 
different  surroundings." 

••  But  her  heart  is  not  in  that,  either."  It  was 
a  very  sad  voice  that  Miss  Beebe  heard,  and  she 
turned  to  her  friend  <[uickly.  --Her  heart  i.-.  not 
in  anything  we  do.'  went  on  Mrs.  Cairuth  slov.  !y. 
'•but  she  loves  me  and  trusts  me  so  completely 
that  she  does  her  best  and  never  complains. 

"But  where  is  her  heart,  then?"  Miss  Lu- 
ella's  sympathies  sprang  out  tiuickly  at  her  i'rierd's 
sad  tone.  ••  ilow  ungrateful 

"Oh.  hush!"  Color  surged  up  over  Mrs.  Car- 
ruth's  forehead  and  cheeks.  ••  It  is  one  of  the 
most  crushing-  thoughts  that  come  to  me.  that  Mar 
garet  might  sometime  do  something  forme  from 
gratitude.  She  loves  me  so  dearly  now.  I  don't 
believe  a  daughter  ever  loved  her  mother  more." 
She  cast  an  appealing  glance  at  Mi>s  Beebe,  who 
responded  with  an  emphatic  nod. 

•k  Of  course  she  does.  \\liy  should  n't  she? 
But  what  do  you  mean.  Kmeline,  about  her  heart'/ 
Has  she  fallen  in  love  \vith  the  \vroni;-  man'/  " 


CONFIDENCES  1  15 

"  Xo.  nothing  of  that  kind.  It  is  her  voice, 
her  beautiful  voice.  She  wants  to  use  it  profes 
sionally.  She  wants  to  devote  her  life  to  it,  to 
break  iip  our  companionship,  our  home,  - —  not  to 
belong1  to  me  any  more,  but  to  the  public !  " 

'•  Crazy  child  !  She  does  n't  know  what  she  's 
talking  about.'' 

'•  I  don't  think  she  does.  I  have  a  long  time 
been  living  in  hope  that  she  would  content  her 
self  at  home  with  the  many  uses  for  her  music 
that  are  continually  offering  ;  but  instead,  a  little 
wall  —  a  thin  wall,  but  still  a  barrier  —  has  grown 
up  between  us." 

"•  You  don't  tell  me  such  a  thing !  "  Miss  Beebe 
moved  close  to  her  friend. 

"  Yes.     I  can't  speak  of  it  to  any  one,  least  of 
all  to  Margaret.      I  talk  and  laugh,  and  she  talks 
and  laughs,  but  neither  of  us  is  happy,  and  I  — 
am  wretched  ! 

"•  Why,  Emeline,  my  dear  friend !  What  am  I 
hearing  !  AVhat  a  return  for  " 

"•  Hush  !  Mrs.  Carruth  looked  up  with  dry, 
bright  eyes.  '•  Margaret  does  n't  owe  me  any 
thing,''  she  said  quickly. 

The  two  women  regarded  each  other  for  a  silent 
minute.  At  last  Miss  Beebe  spoke. 

"  Every  daughter  owes  her  mother  a  great  deal." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  other,  with  bitter  significance. 

"  How  are  you  so  sure  she  is  n't  happy  ?  "  pur 
sued  Miss  Luella.  *'  You  '11  have  to  give  me  some 


116 

proof,  or  I  can't  help  believing'  that  you  imagine  a 
great  deal. 

*•  She  never  sink's. 

"  What!" 

k- No.  I'liti!  Sunday  she  had  not  snug  a  song 
for  montlis.  1  hen.  to  please  me.  she  sang  at  my 
Mission,  and  she  was  pale  tor  the  rest  ot  the 
evening. 

k-  I  call  her  a  sellish  girl  !  "  annoiuiced  Miss 
I'Vebe  with  fervor. 

'•  So  should  I  if  it  we're  am 'liodv  hut  Margaret, 
said  the  mother  listlessly  :  ••  hut  I  kno\\  Margaret, 
and  1  see  her  trying  to  do  ri^ht  in  every  other  way. 
I  have  thought  of  it  a  great  deal  at  ni^hl  I 
don't  have  time  to  think  during  the  day  and  I 
have  tried  to  reconcile  what  seems  her  obstinacy  m 
this  matter  with  her  behavior  in  oilier  regards. 
It  seems  to  me  that  perhaps  her  feeling  for  what 
she  believes  to  be  her  vocation  is  something  like 
•what  her  love  for  a  man  might  be.  if  siie  were 
suffering  from  an  unrequited  affection,  it  would  n  t: 
l)e  reasonable  in  me  to  insist  that:  she  see  the  man 
and  meet  him  on  friendly  terms,  instead  of  avoid 
ing  him  altogether." 

l-  You  're  a  smart  woman.  Kmeline  ("arruth  ! 
You  can  think  out  everything',  and  you  re  very 
good  to  excuse  that  child:  for.  yon  can  say  what 
you  "ve  a  mind  to.  she  has  no  business  to  keep  \  on 
awake  nights. 

'•  1  still  hope  that  this  is  a  phase,  and  will  pass. 


CONFIDENCES  1 1 7 

My  greatest  ally  would  be  a  man,  if  a  desirable 
one  should  present  himself  and  Margaret  could 
love  him." 

"  There  must  be  a  lot  after  her,"  remarked 
Miss  Beebe. 

"•  Yes.  She  has  received  several  proposals,  but 
no  one  has  touched  her  heart.  She  knows  that 
her  money  is  an  attraction,  and  for  a  long  time  — 
far  longer  than  1  at  lirst  suspected  —  she  has  kept 
her  hopes  fixed  on  a  career  so  steadily  that  there 
has  been  no  room  for  the  light  and  passing  attach 
ments  which  most  girls  experience.  It  is  the  dan 
ger  of  a  woman  interested  in  outside  work,  as  I 
have  been,  that  she  sometimes  misses  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  her  child's  inmost  thoughts  and 
wishes.  All  through  Margaret's  young  girlhood 
I  tried  to  keep  her  eyes  fixed  outside,  on  the 
greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number.  1  woke 
one  day  to  find  that  she  had  escaped  me.  I  no 
longer  understood  her  thoughts."' 

'•  AVhat  a  pity  it  does  seem  !  "  said  Miss  Luella. 
"  If  Margaret  were  only  a  poor  girl,  now  !  " 

Mrs.  Carruth  looked  straight  into  her  friend's 
eyes.  ';  That  is  the  point,''  she  said  slowly.  "  You 
know  that  if  Margaret  had  her  rights,  she  would 

O  O  ' 

be  a  poor  girl." 

"  Rights  ?  Why  —  what  a  queer  —  I  should 
think  ''  —  stammered  Miss  Luella,  unable  to  meet 
the  piercing  regard  bent  upon  her,  and  looking 
here  and  there  in  her  embarrassment. 


%t  Can't  von  sec  what  makes  tliis  misery  to  me' 
To  think  that  a  (lav  mig'ht  conic  when  Margaret 
would  stand  !>•  tore  me  and  accuse  me  ot  >t 
her  birthright,  of  stilling  !)(•]•  talent,  of  stultifying 
her  nature,  c!  Lending  her  to  mv  oun  purposes? 
Si):-  could  do  ail  that  if  she  did  not  love  me.  and 
what  could  I  aii>\verV  Nothing1! 

Mrs.  Carrtith  buried  her  tearless  eves  in  her 
hands. 

'•  Now,  now,  Kmdine.  hush!'  softlv  exclaimed 
her  guest,  in  much  di^tre-^.  ••  1  he  ciidd  might 
come  in.  \\lio  ever  would  tell  her?  ^  on  know 
we  always  said  that  !  " 

"  ^  cs,  we  alwav's  did.  Mure  Fools  we.  re 
turned  Mrs.  CaiTuth.  au'air.  looking  :i|i.  •  h  is  a 
fool's  paradise  a  woman  makes  for  herself  when 
she  does  what  1  did.  Th;:t  dav  when  yo 
the  sweet  little  bal)V  to  mv  (!ii]»t\  ai'ins  and  >he 
looked  up  at  me  with  such  mvsterv  in  hci'  eyes, 
and  I  ]>ut  mv  clu^'k  against  her  head  I  can  led 
it  now.  silkv  as  a  ImttorHy's  win^  —  I  took  her 
into  mv  heart  and  made  liev  mine.  I  -~a.id  tlien  : 
w  She  shall  never  know  I  am  not  her  mother.  She 
must  he  all  mine."  " 

"And  that  was  rig'ht.  said  Mis>  Ijoehu  sooth 
ingly. 

••  Ki^'ht?"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Carrntli  sharply.  "  It 
was  wron^'  —  all  wrung1!  It  is  one  ot  the  crud 
est  mistakes  a  woman  can  make.  Sooner  or  later 
the  truth  will  turn  into  a  sword  of  Damocles  hai)L>- 


COXI-'IDENCES  119 

ing  over  her  head  by  a  single  hair,  ready  to  fall 
and  destroy  at  a  l>low  her  child's  faith  and  love !  " 

'*  Why,  Emeline  !  I  had  forgotten  it.  Every 
body  has.  If  they  hadn't,  there  isn't  a  creature 
on  earth  mean  enough  to  do  you  such  an  injury." 

••  I  suppose  not,  and  yet  —  this  vagary  of  Mar 
garet's  has  awakened  fear  out  of  a  twenty  years' 
sleep.  There  is  one  person  whom  I  have  always 
intended  to  tell  when  the  time  came,  and  that  is 
her  lover,  when  she  looks  on  one  with  favor.'' 

tk  She  will,  one  of  these  days,  now  don't  you  fret. 
As  you  say,  when  she  falls  in  love,  that  will  settle 
all  this  matter  of  the  stage  in  quick  metre ;  and 
as  for  destroying  Margaret's  faith  in  you,  what  is 
going  to  do  that,  even  if  she  should  learn  the 
truth  some  day  ?  That  lover  you  tell  about  it 
may  tell  her." 

"  Xot  if  he  i.s  a  lover.  No  indeed  !  O  Luella  ! 
it  sounds  like  an  easy  and  excusable  thing  to  keep 
the  truth  concerning  her  birth  from  an  adopted 
child  ;  but  no  one  can  do  it  without  finding  herself 
started  on  a  chain  of  white  lies  as  long  as  life 
itself.  As  soon  as  a  child  is  old  enough  to  know 
that  she  has  been  born  at  all,  she  wants  to  know 
where  and  when.  She  asks  innumerable  questions 
as  she  grows  up,  comments  on  inherited  traits,  has 
pride  and  love  of  family  woven  into  the  warp  and 
woof  of  her  nature,  until  if  at  maturity  the  truth 
is  suddenly  disclosed,  the  shock,  the  sense  of  be 
trayal  "  —  Mrs.  Carruth  suddenly  rose  and  began 


pacing  the  Hoor.  ••  In  Margaret's  case,  she  is  so 
the  s<ml  ;  !'  honor  and  integrity  -  The  thought 
makes  such  a  coward  of  me  th:it  at  moment-  i  am 
]v;idv  to  !et  hei1  lake  lief  own  course. 

She  \va!hed  on.  apparently  forget  fill  of  Miss 
Heche.  who  followed  her  with  he]])less.  tronhh  d 
eves.  At  last  she  spoke  aLi'ain. 

;-  I  have  not  told  yon  (it  one  hope  thai  ha>  come 
to  me  lately." 

••  I  )o  tell  me,  \'on  poor  Li'irl  ! 

••  It   is  that  tiie  lover  has  arrived." 

*•  Kim-line  ! 

••  i  !c  is  a  man  latclv  conic  to  Hoston.  He  serins 
vcrv  imieli  interested  in  Margaret,  and  a-  lor  her. 
I  have  noticed  more  spontaneity  in  her  behavior 
when  he  is  near  than  at  anv  other  tune. 

'•  And  yon  approve  oi'  him  '.'  " 

••All  that    I  can  discover  is  in  his  favor." 

••  Oil  !  I  do  hope  it  may  turn  out  so  !  "  >aid  Miss 
Heche  devoutly.  "  'I  liesc  L;irls  who  are  too  \\ell 
olt  need  a  little  roiiLdiin^-it  to  hnn;;1  them  to  their 
senses  :  hut  with  some,  marriage  takes  the  place  of 
it.  Not  that  I  should  want  Margaret's  marriage 
to  he  anything  hut  liaj)])v,  hut  I  ^uess  she  11  look 
l>ack  man\  a  time  to  t!ie  llowery  paths  of  ease  she 
has  now.  \\  hat 's  the  mans  name,  it  von  don  t 
mind  7 

Mrs.  Carruth  stopped  walking,  and  leaned  on  a 
chair.  ••  It  is  a  delicate  matter  to  mention  after 
what  I  have  said.  ' 


CONFIDENCES  121 

"  Just  as  you  think  Lest,  dear,"  returned  Miss 
Luella  meekly.  "•  lie  is  certainly  a  very  fortunate 
man  if  you  and  Margaret  both  look  favorably 
upon  him.'' 

"  I  '11  find  out  who  he  is  before  I  leave  this 
place,  or  my  name  is  not  Luella  Beebe,"  thought 
the  little  woman,  "  and  I  hope  to  goodness  Mar 
garet  Carruth  will  get  married  and  settle  down, 
and  stop  all  this  hifalutiii  nonsense.  1  wish  she  'd 
speak  to  me  about  it.  I  'd  give  her  some  of  the 
straightest  talk  she  ever  heard  in  her  life.'' 

She  sought  out  Margaret  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  same  day,  with  the  hope  of  entrapping  some 
confidence. 

She  found  the  girl  in  her  own  room,  and  was 
received  kindly. 

"  I  have  to  come  in  and  see  what  new  pretty 
things  you  've  been  getting,''  she  announced. 

"  That 's  right,"  returned  Margaret,  who  had 
been  sitting  at  her  desk  in  a  negligee  gown,  attend 
ing  to  a  pile  of  notes  and  bills,  but  who  rose  with 
pleasant  alacrity. 

"  I  guess  you  've  got  the  prettiest  girl's  room  in 
Boston,"  remarked  Miss  Beebe,  looking  about  at 
the  violet  and  white  furnishings  and  decorations. 
From  the  cosy  corner  to  the  upright  piano,  the 
delicate  color  scheme  was  charming  to  the  eye. 
Margaret  herself,  in  the  violet  negligee,  whose 
loose  silken  folds  fell  away  from  round  throat  and 
wrists,  looked  as  if  unfit  for  coarser  surroundings. 


"  Just  a  little  better  than  bein^'  brought  up  on 
charity  in  Spring-dale,"  thought  the  visitor  bitterly. 

••  \  v  .  sit  down.  i  Jeebe,  or  do  vou 

preic!  to  in  , "  ".  l '•  m ;•  '. ;t  disc* »v<  ry  ? 

••  V,  hat  is  there  to  discover?  New  pictures, 
ue\v  friends?  \  on  know  I  admire  to  *ee  photo- 
gTaphs." 

••  1  m  not  ^are  if  I  have  anv  new  ones.  L'  1  us 
see."  .Margaret  took  a  ki^ke?  of  picturo  and  sat 
down  beside  her  friend.  ••  I  think  von  have  seen 
most  of  these.  No.  here  is  a  new  one,  !  m  --lire. 

Miss  I»eebe  seixed  the  photograph  of  a  sniooth- 
faced  man.  ••  Now.  1  think  \\  illard  !'ivi,eh 
ouu'ht  to  u;ive  me  one  of  these!  she  said,  looking 
v,  i;h  interest  into  the  familiar  eves. 

••  No  donbi   he  \\oulii  be  pleas<  ii  to  do  so. 

••  I  <;'uess  he  s  been  read  kind  to  Althea  (ia\- 
lord  :  but  I  don  t  believe  she  s  in  lo\e  v»nii  him. 

k<  I  hope  yon  didn't  ask  her  if  she  were,"  said 
Margaret  smilini;'. 

••Oh,  I  know  a  tiling  or  t\\o!  I'esponded  Mi>s 
Ijei'be.  tossing  her  head.  "  I  u^cd  to  think.  .Mar 
garet,  that  perhaps  vou  imejit  fancv  \\  illard  your 
self." 

'•  I  do  fancy  him.       I  'm  fond  of  him. 

••  You  min'ht  i;'o  further  and  fare  worse.  I  can 
tell  you." 

••  I  should  as  soon  think  of  marrvmv,  my  brother. 
This  is  a  pretty  ij'roup.  this  bridal  party.  See  the 
maid  of  honor." 


CONFIDENCES  123 

"  Why,  it 's  you,  ain't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  that  makes  the  third  time  I  have  been  a 
bridesmaid." 

"  Look  out,  Margaret !      Look  out !  " 

"Why?" 

'•  You  must  n't  be  bridesmaid  too  often  or  you 
may  never  be  bride/' 

"•  Xot  every  girl  needs  to  be  a  bride.  See  how 
independent  and  happy  you  are." 

Miss  Beebe  put  one  hand  on  the  girl's  soft 
gown.  u  Don't  you  take  up  with  any  such  notion 
as  that,  my  dear  !  When  Mr.  Kight  conies  along, 
you  take  him  !  There  won't  be  any  reason  why 
you  should  n't.  Mine  came  —  but  he  had  to  go 
to  Australia  —  and  there  was  Pa  —  so  1  stayed 
home.  Perhaps  your  mother  has  told  you." 

Margaret  nodded,  and  her  smooth  hand  closed 
over  the  one  on  her  knee.  ;'  How  brave  you 
were  !  "'  she  murmured.  i¥  How  good  !  " 

"  Lots  of  other  women  are  doing  it  every  day," 
said  Miss  Beebe,  resuming  her  cheery  manner, 
"  being  just  as  brave  and  just  as  good.  '  This 
world  is  not  our  rest,'  you  know." 

"  But  to  feel  sure  he  was  Mr.  Right  and  then 
to  let  him  go,  —  to  give  him  up !  "  said  Margaret 
with  slow  musing.  "It  is  like  "  —  she  paused. 

"  Like  any  other  laying  down  of  life,  or  taking 
np  of  cross,"  said  Miss  Beebe.  "  We  all  have  it 
to  do  sometime.  Who  would  shirk  ?  " 

The  girl  caught  her  lip  in  her  teeth  for  an  in- 


124  A    <;IH-:\T  LOYK 

stant.  "  I  think  life  is  very  bewildering',  .Miss 
Luella." 

"•Of  course;  but  one  day  at  a  time  is  all  we 
have  to  travel,  and  after  a  while  we  shall  get  there; 
where  thing's  will  he  plainer.  A  good  husband  is 
a  good  partner  to  have  on  the  ]ournev.  Margaret. 
I  don't  want  yon  should  go  without  one." 

The  girl's  lips  were  parted  as  she  looked  nn>ee- 
inglv  at  the  photograph  of  the  bridal  party. 

'•Come  now,  —confidentially.  —  "you  might 
tell  your  oldest  friend  something  about  the  man 
who  wants  you. 

.Margaret  started  from  .her  reverie.  u  Nobody 
wants  me,  —  nobody,  she  said,  so  swiftly,  that 
her  companion  smiled.  "That  is  -  nobody  new 

nobody  interesting. 

•*  \\  ell.  tell  me  about  somebody  interesting,  eyen 
if  lie  does  n't  want  you.  ' 

"  Xo."  The  girl  colored  under  the  sharp  little 
eyes.  "There  is  nothing  to  tell.  \\  e  have  our 
routine,  just  the  same  as  eyer.  The  story  of  one 
of  our  weeks  is  just  like  the  story  of  another." 

"  But  yon  must  always  be  meeting  new  people." 

"Occasionally,  of  course:  but  "  -Margaret 
sighed  —  "  there  is  not  much  difference  between 
them  beyond  their  names." 

Miss  Beebe,  baffled,  returned  to  the  photo 
graphs,  and  examined  them  all.  from  time  to  time 
asking  questions,  but  finding  nothing  to  satisfy 
her  curiosity. 


CONFIDENCES  125 

At  last  she  finished  them,  and  leaning  back, 
appeared  ready  for  further  entertainment. 

"  Do  you  know,  Margaret,  it  just  happened  I 
did  lit  once  hear  you  sing  the  last  time  I  was 
here  ?  " 

The  girl  replaced  the  photographs  on  a  table. 

"  1  'm  exactly  in  the  light  mood  now  for  a 
song,''  continued  the  visitor.  "  Do  sit  down  at 
that  pretty  piano  and  sing  to  me." 

"  I  'in  sorry,  Miss  Beebe,  but  it  is  out  of  tune. 
I  am  expecting  the  tuner  to-day." 

"  Oh,  it  will  surely  do  for  just  touching  along 
chords." 

"  Alas  !  no  !  It  has  been  neglected,  and  I  only 
yesterday  discovered  its  condition." 

So,  pleasantly,  Margaret  evaded  her  guest's 
request,  and  Miss  Luella's  sharp  ears  could  dis 
cover  no  feeling  in  the  refusal  beyond  that  which 
the  words  expressed. 

It  was  the  Carruths'  evening  at  home,  and  Miss 
Beebe  reasoned  that  if  the  unknown  gave  the 
promise  of  being  a  lover  worth  having,  he  would 
not  absent  himself  on  this  occasion. 

"It  won't  do  any  harm  for  me  to  know  who  it 
is,"  she  argued,  "for,  of  course,  I  shouldn't  tell  a 
living  soul.  Nobody  can  blame  me  for  keeping 
my  eyes  and  ears  open  if  1  keep  my  mouth  shut." 

Miss  Beebe  was  not  usually  in  favor  of  keeping 
her  mouth  shut.  She  enjoyed  talking  as  much  as 
the  average  woman,  and  her  friend's  at-homes  gave 


her  ;ni  f'lijovjililc  opportunity.  She  knew  tin-  \vavs 
of  the  house.  ;;ii<i  several  of  its  habitues  were 
aeeustonieil  !:>  tlie  si^hl  of  the  alert  little  woman 
in  stiff  black  sillc  ai::l  u'oM  chains.  \\  ho  tripped 
altoiit  with  a  spri^'ht  1',  company  manner  an. I  ac 
costed  everybody,  stranger  or  acquaintance.  I  Ifv 
were  all  Kmeline  .-  friends,  and  therefore  her.-. 

Miss  (iaylord.  coming  out  from  the  dressing- 
room  and  meeting  \\  iilard  French  at  the  head  of 
the  stairway,  commented  on  this:  - 

••  Did  \'oit  see  Miss  lieebe  as  we  came  in? 
Poor  Miss  ('arrnth  !  I!o\v  she  must  wi>h  country 
cousins  were  n  t  so  fresli  ! 

••Oh.  no.  she  doesn't.  Don't  \\a-te  your  pity. 
The  Carruths  are  a  law  unto  themselyes,  and  Ali>s 
Beebe  s  all  rig'llt  —  M>  loiii^'  as  >he  does  n  t  write  1o 
a  fellow." 

••  \\  ell.  I  ho])e  she  11  let  me  alone.  '  remarked 
Althea  irrepressihlv.  as  the  two  moved  down  the 
broad  staircase  side  l>v  >ide.  ••  I  m  here  on  busi 
ness,  and  have  n  t  time  to  dally  with  your  Mi>s 

Lu." 

••  ^^  hat  business  ? 

••  It  is  my  own.  returned  the  ^'irl.  in  her  gentle, 
saucy  drawl. 

*•  Didn't  you  sav,  'United  we  stand."  your 
self?" 

••  Well,  then."  said  Althea.  >li^htlv  ilu>hin^, 
"  if  you  rememher  that.  I  should  think  you  would 
know  what  niv  business  is  here." 


CONFIDENCES  127 

At  the  foot  of  the  stairs  they  encountered  Miss 
Beebe,  who  regarded  them  approvingly. 

French  greeted  her  with  a  smile.     "  You  find 
me   carrying  out  your    instructions,   Miss   Lu,  — 
escorting  Miss  (laylord  wherever  she  wants  to  go  ; 
was  n't  that  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Willard,  you  've  fulfilled  all  my  expecta 
tions."  Miss  Beebe  cast  a  parting  nod  at  Althea, 
who  moved  away  to  where  Mrs.  Carruth  was  talk 
ing  to  some  people. 

"  Train  up  a  child  —  you  know,"  returned 
French  ;  "  and  you  did,  faithfully." 

t;  Yes,''  said  Miss  Heche,  regarding  him  seri 
ously.  "  You  've  done  all  I  expected,  and  you  've 
done  enough.  Do  you  understand  ? "  signifi 
cantly.  "  Enough.  Stop  now." 

"  I  'm  afraid  you  're  being  deep,  Miss  Lu." 

"  I  guess  you  can  follow  me,  seeing  you  went 
through  Harvard  College." 

"  Ah  !     Xow  you  wither  me  !  " 

"  It  don't  seem  more  than  a  month  since  I  pun 
ished  you  for  breaking  my  window,  Willard 
French,  and  there  you  are  —  a  grown-up  man  in  a 
dress  suit." 

French  smiled.  "  And  what  has  that  to  do 
with  my  following  you  ?  " 

"  I  'd  take  Althea  Gaylord  out  of  your  house  if 
I  could.  I  put  her  in  on  your  account ;  and  I  'd 
take  her  out  on  your  account." 

"  What  is  there  so  wrong  in  my  wearing  a  dress 
suit  ?  " 


128 

••  I  put  her  in  there  because  you  were  a  human 
lieiiiii'.  1  d  like  t<»  take  he)-  out  because  von  re  a 
man." 

••  Now.  as  a  friend.  Miss  Heche.  "  lie  said.  softly 
and  confidentially,  eonim^  M>  elo^e  to  her  that  his 
white  enamelled  studs  a])])i'oached  her  nose.  ••  as 
your  fnend  and  well-wisher,  I  would  advise  \ou 
after  this  to  pat  a  little  more  water  in  it." 

u  In  what?  " 

••  \\  ell  in  whatever  you  re  in  the  habit  of 
takin-." 

••  ^  on  impudent  hov  !      1  'in  a  white  ril>l>oner/' 

'•Then  behave  like  one.  Miss  La.  Don!  alarm 
your  1  riends. 

••  1    feel   res]»oiisible  for  Althea  (iaylord." 

"  So  do   I.       \  on  made  me. 

••  \\'el!.  don't.  Don't  any  more.  She  is  at 
home  now.  You've  been  very  hind  "  Miss 
Beehe  spoke  hastily,  then  paused.  ••  \\  illard.  I  'in 
often  a  very  foolish  woman.  There  is  probably 
somethin"1  (jtieer  aliout  my  brain,  for  1  never  can 
think  of  more  than  one  tiling  at  a  time:  l)iit  I  can 
talk  to  you  now.  can't  I.  as  one  human  heini;1  to 
another?  " 

"  I  don  t  know.  ^  on  very  truly  observed  a 
minute  au'o  that  I  am  a  man. 

'•  But  there  is  a  plane  where  we  are  both  angels, 
said    Miss    I/uella    excitedly.      "I    can    ask    you   to 
come  up  on  that  plane  with  me." 

French  flapped  his  elbows  ayainst  his  sides  with 


CONFIDENCES  129 

alacrity.  "My  pinions  are  a  little  feeble.  I'm 
afraid  yon  "11  have  to  give  me  a  tow  ;  but  I  can't 
resist  such  flattery  as  that." 

"  If  I  only  knew,"  Miss  Luella  gazed  at  him 
musingly ;  "  if  I  only  knew  whether  yon  would 
ever  think  of  putting  beans  in  your  nose  if  I 
did  n't  suggest  it." 

"  Well,"  French  paused  in  his  exertions.  "  I 
confess  that  had  never  occurred  to  me  as  forming 
one  of  the  diversions  of  the  elect." 

"  Willard,  dear,  Willard  !  That  is  irrever 
ent !  " 

"  I  'in  only  following'  you." 

"  I  wanted  to  talk  about  Althea." 

"  I  notice  you  usually  do  when  you  are  with 
me." 

"  Bnt  now  I  want  to  talk  the  other  way  —  to 
warn  yon  off  where  once  I  urged  you  on." 

"•  Oh !  Ah  !  '  with  eyebrows  raised  in  enlight 
enment. 

•••  I  don't  want  you,  yourself  —  and  I  don't  want 
yon  to  make  her  —  she  might  grow  dependent  — 
and  all  my  fault  —  I  don't  think  she  is  "  —  has 
tily  —  "I  have  n't  seen  the  least  sign  of  it  — but 
then,  it  might  be  —  and  her  people  so  far  away, 
and  —  O  Willard,"  desperately,  "  do  tell  me  you 
understand  me  !  " 

"  My  dear  Miss  Beebe,  it  is  with  modest  pride 
in  my  own  penetration  that  I  admit  I  do  get  a 
sort  of  glimmering  of  your  meaning." 


130 

'•  And  yon  will  herd  inc.  \\  illard  !  " 

'•  Did  1  ever  fail  To?  I  will  say  to  Mis>  (iav- 
lord  the  vcrv  lirst  tune  \vc  ai'c  alone 

••  \\  iliard  French!  '  .Miss  Heche  grasped  his 
arm.  ••'ion  Lnve  me  palpitation!  She  shook 
him  nervously.  ••  1  Ins  is  strictly  between  our 
selves.  It  s  the  mo>t  delicate  mailer  in  tin- 
world!  I  stand  as  •>itiardian  to  Althca. 

••  Joint     -  joint  u'uardian." 

w'And  1  ve  couiided  in  von  on  a  yerv  hitdi 
plane.  up  ahovc  pettv  considerations.  IJcmem- 
hertlie  allied  in  you.  \\illard.  You're  a  vouiii;1 
man  now.  full  of  jokes,  hut  von  11  he  an  an:;t  1  i'or- 
cyer  ! 

French  squared  his  shoulders  complacently. 
'••\\eil.  no  fellow  could  resist  >ueli  ;;n  assurance 
as  that.  I  ii'iy*1  \ou  niy  word  then,  as  an^vl  to 
anii'eh  that  I  '11  do  my  lies!:.  Angels  can  do  no 
more."" 

*•  \  on  can  see    [    m  not    joking.  '    pej'sisted  Miss 


own    aar 


l-  \\  hen  I   reach   the  privacy   of   my  o 
ment    and    can    examine   my   arm.    I    expect   to    lie 
convinced  of  it." 

••  I  "m  afraid  I  did    pinch   yon  a  little.  V\  illard, 
contritely. 

".Fust  enough  to  convince1  me  that  we  are  still 
in  the  ilesh.  "1  on  don  t  want  me  to  lie  too  tran 
scendental.  That  "s  all  rin'ht." 


CHAPTER  IX 

MISS    BEE  HE'S    QUEST 

Ix  her  excitement  over  the  interview  with 
French,  Miss  Beebe  forgot  momentarily  her  quest 
for  the  favored  individual  to  whom  Mrs.  Carruth 
was  looking  for  help. 

Hardly  had  AVillard  left  her,  however,  when 
the  remembrance  returned  that  this  golden  oppor 
tunity  might  not  recur  for  a  long  time  to  come, 
and  she  began  to  look  about  her  for  new  arrivals. 

"  There  's  Mrs.  Darling,  as  true  as  I  live !  " 
she  thought,  as  she  recognized  the  pretty  woman 
bowing  to  right  and  left  with  an  assured  air. 
"  Her  bonnet  ain't  anything  more;  than  a  butterfly, 
and  it  suits  her  exactly.  I  thought  the  man  with 
her  was  Mr.  Darling  at  first,  but  I  might  have 
known  it  would  n't  be.  AYish  he  'd  turn  around, 
so  I  could  get  a  look  at  him." 

The  unspoken  wish  was  fulfilled  at  once,  and 
the  tall  man  turned  directly  toward  Miss  Beebe. 

"  Where  have  I  seen  that  face?  Somewhere, 
I  know.  She  '11  introduce  me.  Good  evening, 
Mrs.  Darling,"'  she  added  aloud,  as  the  couple 
approached. 

Mrs.  Darling's  regard  fell  upon  the  little  woman 


with  chill  surprise.  ".How  do  you  do."  she  s;iid 
carelessly,  ;ind  without  offering  to  take  the  hall- 
extendeil  hand  she  moved  ^'racefully  on. 

Wrath  >tirred  Mi>s  Ijeebe  s  l>rea>t  and  -diarp- 
eiied  her  memory.  She  met  the  eyes  ot  Mrs.  I)ar- 
lin^  s  escort.  "  ( i ood-e veiling,  '  she  said.  acco.-,t  in^ 
him.  "  I  don  t  sii])])ose  von  reilieillhei1  inc.  hut  we 
were  introduced  one  evening  on  the  street  when  ! 
was  with  \\  illard  1'  reneh. 

••  I  lieu1  your  pardon."  si  id  Vandyke,  pan>in^ 
courteously.  ••  !  iiavc  met  so  many  new  friends 
in  the  last  month,  that  I  m  rather  dull  at  recall 
ing  iaces  somet imes. 

'•Tiresome  old  tiling!  thought  Mrs.  Darling, 
regard in^'  Mis.-,  Luelhi  fri<;'idl\  :  Inn  -die  was 
called  aside  at  that  moment  i*\  a  in/nd  and  was 
ohliLred  to  res] toiid. 

••  Xo  wonder  yon  don  t  remember  inc.  said 
]\Iiss  Heche  hrio;htly.  "I'm  Miss  lieclsc.  an  old 
friend  of  the  Carruths,  and  of  \\  illard  French's, 
too.  The  liidit  shone  ri^ht  on  your  face  that 
nig'llt,  so  I  reinemher  you.  hut  your  name  !ia>  ^onc 
from  inc."  Miss  Luclla  ])erk'ed  her  head  on  one 
side  inquiringly. 

••  \  andyke  is  \\\\  name." 

l-  Oh  !  that  's  easy.  I  can  remember  it  hy  your 
beard."  Miss  Luclla  <^ave  a  little  lauu'h.  lie  was 
looking  at  her  attenti\  ely.  No  old  friend  of  the 
C'arruth^  could  l»c  totally  iinintcrcstinij,'. 

k-  I    rcmcinher     \\'illard's   telling    me    that    yon 


MISS    BEEBE'S    QUEST  133 

were  a  stranger  here.  I  hope  by  this  time  you  like 
Boston  ?  " 

"  Profoundly,  Miss  Beebe." 

"  Going1  to  make  it  your  home,  perhaps  ?  " 

"  I  expect  to."' 

"  Is  this  your  first  evening  at  the  Carruths'  ?  " 

"  Xo,  I  am  glad  to  say." 

Miss  Luella  gave  a  sharp  little  nod.  "  You 
won't  find  any  nicer  people." 

"  I  don't  wish  to." 

"  Mrs.  Can-nth  and  I  were  children  together. 
I  've  knou'ii  Margaret  ever  since  she  was  born." 

"  You  are  fortunate."  Vandyke  was  smiling 
too  now,  and  giving  Miss  Beebe  that  unconsciously 
genial  look  which  so  unexpectedly  succeeded  his 
impassive  expression. 

As  shi'  regarded  him,  suddenly  she  started,  and 
both  her  thin  ringed  hands  clasped  over  her  heart. 
"  Oh  !  "  she  ejaculated. 

"What  is  it?"  he  asked. 

"  Xo  thing  !  nothing  !  I  —  I  have  attacks.  It 
is  gone." 

Her  overmastering  determination  to  get  even 
with  Molly  Darling  had  for  a  time  put  to  flight 
every  other  consideration ;  now  the  sudden  con 
viction  came  to  her  that  here  was  her  man  !  Xo 
wonder  Emeline  agreed  !  XTo  wonder  !  no  wonder  ! 

"  I  'm  glad  I  've  met  you  again,  Mr.  Vandyke," 
she  said,  swallowing  in  her  excitement.  "Any 
friend  of  the  Carruths  is  a  friend  of  mine." 


1"4  ,1     GREAT    LOVE 

••  And  I  must  sav  the  same.  '  returned  her  com 
panion.  -•  1  m  sure  I  should  always  wi-di  to  have 
the  CaiTiil  hs'  friends  mine  also." 

-And  that  is  why  he  is  with  Molly  Darling! 
Oh.  I  wish  !  dared  say  something  !"  thought  Miss 
Heche  :  but  discretion  won  the  day.  "I  don't 
know  where  Miss  Carruth  is."  she  said,  looking 
about  vaguely.  --She  was  here  a  minute  ago." 

'•  'I  hank  you.  I  shall  find  her,"  responded  \  an- 
clyke,  bowing,  as  he  moved  on. 

Miss  Heche  hunted  for  a  chair,  and  finding  one. 
sat  down.  All  her  ambition  to  be  chatty  and  socia 
ble,  to  help  Lmeline  in  her  labor  of  ent'Tiaining, 
was  merged  in  the  satisfaction  ot  this  discovery 
of  hers.  Not  a  doubt  assailed  her  as  to  the  ideii- 
titv  of  her  hero.  It  could  n  1  be  anybody  else!  It 
should  n  t  be  anybody  else  !  Perhaps  \\  she  were 
(juick  she  might  see  their  meeting  to-night.  At 
the  thought.  Miss  Heche  sprang  up  so  quickly  that 
she  bumped  her  head  against  the  elbow  of  an 
elderly  gentleman  who  had  just  reached  forward  to 
examine  a  crystal  nestling  in  a  bit  ot  bronze. 

"  Beg  pardon  !"  murmured  Miss  Luella.  recog 
nizing  no  obstacle,  but  hastening  toward  the  music- 
room,  while  the  curio  seeker  stared  after  her  indig 
nantly. 

In  her  flight  she  reached  Althea  and  caught  her 
by  the  arm.  k-  Where's  Margaret,  do  you  know? 
The  music-room.  I  guess.  Let  s  go  and  see. 

They    reached    the    door    just    as    \  ainlyke    ap- 


MISS    BEE  BE' S    QUEST  Jo-> 

preached  the  knot  of  people  about  Margaret.  The 
latter  turned  and  greeted  lii.ni,  then  continued  her 
conversation  with  the  man  slit;  had  been  talking 
to,  while  Vandyke  responded  to  a  remark  of  Mrs. 
Darling. 

"  Oh,  pshaw  !  "  exclaimed  Miss  Beebe. 

••  Watts  on  the  mind?  "  inquired  Althea. 

"  Oh  —  oh  —  nothing,"  returned  her  friend  with 
embarrassment. 

••  You  "re  blushing,''  said  Miss  Gaylord.  "Miss 
Beebe,  you  're;  smitten  ! 

*•  With  whom  ? 

'»  The  man  you  're  staring  at,  of  course." 

"  Why,  Althea!  "  The  speaker  hurriedly  with 
drew  her  ga/e.  "  I  hope  I  did  n't  stare." 

"  Your  hopes  are  vain.  You  did.  Of  course 
you  are  smitten  with  him.  lie  is  the  social  lion 
of  the  winter.  YYm  'd  know  he  was  if  you  only 
watched  Mrs.  Darling." 

"1"  Miss  Beebe  swallowed    again.     "Al 

thea.  I  have  a  special  interest  in  that  man." 

u  That  walks  without  talking,  as  the  French 
say." 

"•  But,  dear  girl,  I  really  have,  and  I  wish  —  I 
wish  Molly  Dili-ling-  wras  in  Africa !  She  is  " 
Miss  Beebe  hesitated,  shocked  at  her  own  implica 
tion  to  a  young  girl  that  a  married  woman  could 
stray  into  paths  of  flirtation,  —  "  she  is  a  distract 
ing  sort  of  woman  to  steady  people,  and  Mr.  Van 
dyke  looks  like  a  solid,  serious  sort  of  man." 


••  Indeed  lie  is.  If  lie  were  not.  I  M  have  a  go 
at  him  myself."  r-  marked  Mi>s  (iaylord. 

••Mv  deal'  Althea  !       remonstrated   Mi.>s   Luella. 

'•  \Vhv.  of  eouise.  One  wants  to  he  in  fashion  : 
lint.  I  don  t  want  to  go  into  soeietv.  so  I  don't 
meet  him  often.  Mi>>  Magnet  is  as  sweet  as 
peaches.  She  savs  she  11  get  me  liids  if  I  want 
them,  lit'.i  slie  MIX'S  I  should  be  bored,  and  I  know 
1  >hon!d  lie.  If  Mrs.  Dai-ling  got  invitations  for 
me.  thev  would  n  t  he  prosv  ones. 

••  \\  hat  do  vou  mean  ''. 

'•Oh.  she  goes  to  plenty  of  balls  ami  theatre 
parties  and  things.  Poor  Miss  Magnet  has  to 
tote  around  .'liter  big  lings  and  philanthropists 
and  such  people  so  much,  she  does  n  I  get  iimei) 
chanee  to  fri.-k. 

••  \\eil.  I  m  very  glad  for  yon  that  yon  don  t 
get  into  .Mrs.  Darling's  set.  my  child.  \\here 
would  your  studies  go  to? 

k-  It    s  a  conundrum  :  I  never  gness  them. 

'•Air.  Vandyke  doesn't  look  like  the  frisking 
sort." 

"  Xo.  indeed:  so  the  joke  now  is  to  see  Mrs. 
Darling  interesting'  lierselt  in  literature  and  the 
iin<'  arts  !  " 

Miss  I)ee!)e  regarded,  her  laughing  companion 
dubiously.  "In  that  wav  she  will  certainly  he 
more  coinpan5oual)le  to  tii.it  good  man.  her  hus- 
band,  she  respoiuh.'d  primly. 

Miss    (iaylord    drew    the    corners    of    her    small 


J//S.S'    HUE  HE'S    QUEST  137 

mouth  down.  "  Yes  indeed.  Everybody  knows 
that  is  why  she  does  it." 

"  Althea,  said  Miss  Luella  warningly,  "  let  us 
assume  that  she  does." 

"  Oh,  but  I  'm  so  unassuming  !  "  retorted  Miss 
Gay  lord. 

Miss  Beebe  had  it  on  her  mind  to  make  an 
experiment  this  evening.  "  I  can  do  it  so  inno 
cently,"  she  reasoned,  •"  and  it  's  so  natural  that  I 
should  ask  it,  it  can't  do  any  harm  any  way,  and 
I  'd  like  to  know  what  excuse  Margaret  Carruth 
can  give  in  decency.  She  knows  that  I  know  she 
has  ii't  got  a  cold." 

She  turned  to  Althea  again.  "  You  say  you  've 
never  heard  Miss  Carruth  sing?"  she  asked. 

"  Never.      Somehow  we  never  have  a  chance." 

"Why  don't  we  ask  her  right  now?"  sug- 
gested  Miss  Luella. 

"  You  do  it." 

"  I  'in  going  to."  Miss  Beebe  suited  the  action 
to  the  word  and  advanced  resolutely  to  where 
Margaret  was  talking,  with  her  back  to  Vandyke 
and  Mrs.  Darling. 

"  Margaret,  excuse  me,  my  dear,"  she  said,  with 
her  airy  company  manner,  "  but  there  are  a  num 
ber  of  us  here  who  are  anxious  to  hear  you  sing." 

The  little  knot  of  people  about  all  began  a 
gentle  applause  with  murmurs  of  approbation. 

Miss  Carruth  looked  down  at  her  mother's 
friend  with  concealed  annoyance.  "  This  is  not 


one  of   OUT  musical  t'vcuings,  Miss    Heche.       Please 
\vaii.     she  said  pleasantly. 

••A!i.  '>:;{  you  !-;uo\v  I  cant  wait.  I  must  uo 
home  to-morrow,  and  I  in  so  anxmns  to  hear  vou. 
Mr.  \  andvke.  hrip  IMC  to  persuade  her." 

••  Mr.    \andvke  does  n  t    wi-h    to    hear   me   sing 
to-night.''  said    Margaret   eijuablv.      "lie    \\ili    till 
vou    so.         She    turned    as    she    spoke,    ai.d     !> 
gravely  at  her  Friend.      ••  lie   knows  the  unwriiicn 
rules  oi   1  he  house. 

-All  very  well."  remark  <d  Miss  Lnella  briskly, 
••  lint  there  are  e.xci  p. :<»:-,  to  ail  nile.-..  She  was 
so  interested  in  watching  the  long  ua/e  exchanged 
between  tin-  pair  that  >he  scarcelv  knew  \\h;i1  >he 
^'as  ^Mviii^1.  luit  s!ie  prattled  on.  '•  \\  hen  \ou 
have  iVieinis  here  From  the  eonntrv.  von  >hoidd 
rememlier  the  narrowness  o!  their  privileges  and 
be  generous.  Don't  you  ihink  so.  Mr.  Vandyke?" 

He  hesitated  before  an^werinn1  :  ••  1  hardK  know 
what  to  sav.  Miss  l>eebe.  1.  myseli.  am  Mill  \\ait- 
inn1  to  hear  MI--S  (  arrulh  sing. 

••  And  I  've  never  ln'ard  her.  either."  added. 
Althea. 

••It  is  a  very  strange  circnmstance.  remarked 
Mrs.  Darling  sweet  Iv.  "that  the  ])ersi;ii  who  rt-ally 
has  a  voice  to  soothe  the  sorrows  ot  llns  wicked 
world  is  usually  so  unv.-illing  to  n>e  it,  while  those 
screechers  who  oid\  add  to  our  woes  need  but  the 
smallest  encouragement  to  wreak  their  \\or.M  upon 
u>.  Margaret,  <lear,  are  n't  vou  the  least  bit 


MISS    BEEBE'S    QUEST  139 

selfish  ?  It  seems  to  me  you  refuse  so  often  lately. 
I  only  wish,"  with  a  pretty  sigh,  "  I  had  the  power 
to  give  so  much  pleasure.'' 

Miss  l>eebe  felt  righteous  indignation  for  the 
smile  which  the  speaker  gave  Vandyke  in  closing. 

'•  "NVell,"  she  said,  "  I  advise,  you  to  speak  up 
for  your  rights  as  Miss  Carruth's  guest,  Mr.  Vaii- 
dvke.  She  can't  resist  our  united  efforts." 

Margaret  smiled  at  the  excited  little  woman. 
"•  Listen  to  me,  Miss  Beebe  " 

'•  I  want  to.     Mr.  Vandyke  " 

*'  Mr.  Vandyke  will  not  ask  me.  He  does  n't 
wish  to  hear  me  to-night." 

"  What  is  Margaret  up  to  ?  "  thought  Mrs. 
Darling :  and  French,  who  was  present,  smiled 
curiously. 

•'  I  will  go  to  Springdale,"  continued  Miss  Car- 
ruth,  ik  within  the  month,  if  you  ask  me,  and  sing 
to  you." 

"  You  will,  you  busy  girl  ?  "  Miss  Beebe's  face 
expressed  astonishment. 

"  I  will." 

"  And  where  "  -  Mrs.  Darling's  voice  had  an 
ominous  sweetness  —  "  where  will  you  go  to  sing 
to  Mr.  Vandyke  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Vandyke  has  other  things  to  think  of," 
said  Margaret  coldly. 

"  You  have  a  perfect  right  to  feel  hurt,"  said 
Mrs.  Darling,  looking  up  confidingly  into  the 
man's  eyes. 


140 

"Oil,  Miss  Heche  is  a  good  friend  ot  innic,'' 
he  remarked.  •'  Perhaps  >he  will  telegraph  me  to 
come. 

Mrs.  Darling  gave  the  pretty  laugh  that  was 
part  of  her  stock  iu  trade.  "(iood!  '1  lien  I 
shall  lie  in  it,  for  Margaret  wdl  need  a  chaperone. 
and  of  course  she  would  rather  have  me  than  any 
body  :  wouldn't  you.  Margaret?" 

••  And  where  do  I  come  in  '.' "  asked  Miss  (i ay- 
lord  plaintively.  "Cant  I  go.  Miss  Magnet,  to 
turn  over  the  leaves  ? 

••  Let  us  all  IM>  to  Springdale,"  sug^vsted  i-'ivnch 
with  enthusiasm  :  and  there  was  a  laughing  mur 
mur  of  assent  from  the  others  of  the  group. 

Margaret  gave  Mis-  Heche's  hand  a  touch  that 
was  both  reassuring  and  admonitory.  "So  it  is 
all  settled."  she  said  low.  with  a  little  nod.  and 
began  to  talk  to  Mo>by.  the  arti>t.  about  a  collec 
tion  of  pictures  then  exhibiting  in  Boston. 

"  AV ell,  that  is  queer  !  commented  Miss  Heche, 
not  only  to  herself  but  to  Miss  (iavlord.  as  they 
walked  away  together. 

*••  It  seems  as  if  she  must  hate  to  sing."  returned 
Althea  confidentially.  ••  I  p  at  mv  room  I  ve  tried 
to  get  her  to.  but  she  always  puts  me  oft.  and  tells 
me  to  wait  till  I  can  accompany  her  to  the  i|iiceifs 
taste.  I  11  tell  von  what  !  1  'd  like  to  accompany 
her  to  Springdale  !  Do  you  think"  >he  meant  it  ?  " 

u  Oh,  yes.  Margaret  always  means  what  she 
says/' 


MISS   £EE£E'S    QUEST  141 

"  Do  you  suppose  she  'd  let  me  go  ?  And  would 
you?"  ' 

"  I  would,  of  course,  Altliea ;  but  I  declare  I 
don't  know  whether  that  strange,  crazy  child  would 
or  not." 

Althea  smiled  and  stared.  "  Do  you  realize 
what  adjectives,  you  are  applying  to  your  sacred 
white  elephant  ?  " 

Miss  Beebe  started.  "  I  was  thinking  out 
loud,  my  dear." 

k'  I  did  n't  know  you  indulged  such  profane 
thoughts,"  returned  Miss  Gaylord.  "  For  my  own 
part,  I  don't  think  Miss  Magnet  is  such  hot  —  I 
mean  I  don't  think  she  's  anything  more  than  a 
tip-top  human  girl.  She  does  seem  freaky  about 
singing;  but  maybe  she  doesn't  think  her  voice 
is  any  such  great  shakes  after  all,  and  she 's 
modest.  If  everybody  is  like  you,  and  looks  at 
her  through  magnifying  glasses,  no  wonder  she  'd 
rather  be  wise,  like  the  owl,  and  keep  still." 

"  Oh,  she  can  sing,"  said  Miss  Beebe  with  de 
cision  ;  "•  she  can  sing  the  heart  out  of  you,  —  or 
the  heart  into  you,  —  just  whichever  you  need  to 
have  done." 

"  Then  she  ought  to  do  it  for  a  living.  It 's  a 
pity  she  does  n't  need  to,"  said  Miss  Gaylord  care 
lessly. 

Miss  Luella  looked  around  at  her  quickly. 
"  Did  she  ever  say  anything  like  that  to  you  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed.     She  never  seems  to  want  me  to 


ML' 

lielicvc  she  can  sin",'.  I  scarcely  ever  think  of  it 
unless  I  hear  sonic  one  tensing  her.  I  ju>!  \\i-di  1 
couLl  j'ij'c  up  :  1  (i  Inn-  ;i  hail  quick. 

••  I  '(i  like  to  see  Mar;.::-''1!  married."  remarked 
Miss  P>cc!>e.  with  apparent  irrelevance. 

"Of  course.  She  d  have  a  stunning  wedding. 
I  snj)|)ose.  'I  here  s  no  telling,  though.  Mrs. 
Carrnth  has  such  a  philanthropic  lice  in  her 
ehapeau,  she  d  just  as  hke  as  not  make  her  lie 
married  in  one  of  the  Settlement  houses.  She 
might  take  it  into  her  head  that  the  wedding 
would  lie  an  elevating  sight  for  the  //<>!  /inllni  ; 
then  that  would  settle  it." 

••  Althea  ( iaylord.  you 'i  e  a  case!  Seems  to  me 
vou  vc  found  a  tongue  in  Boston,  and  a  e,ood  long 
one. 

••Had  to.  returned  Miss  (laxlord  cheerfidlv. 
'•  I  "vc  had  to  lie  niv  own  best  irieiid.  YOU  know. 

••  Well,  tell  inc.  have  YOU  noticed  that  Margaret 
favors  anybody '.'  " 

"  A  man  ])erson,  do  von  mean  ? 

t-  (  )f  course." 

••  Yes.  everybody.  She  favors  them  all  :  men 
with  waist-lines  occasionally,  luit  mostly  men  with 
out  waist-Jmes.  They  ve  mostly  lost  their  waists 
l»v  the  time  they've  accomplished  anything  that 
moves  the  world  along,  and  that  s  the  kind  whose 
'isms'  she  has  to  take  an  interest  in.  Poor  Miss 
Magnet!  '  Althea  gave  a  one-sided  smile  and 
wink  at  her  companion.  ••  1  "d  ju>t  like  to  take 


J//,S\S    HKKKK'S    (+UEST  143 

her  mother's  place  and  run  her  a  month."  The 
smile  became  a  laugh.  "  There  might  be  some 
trouble  in  getting  her  back  into  the  traces.  I  'd 
show  her  how  to  frivol,  and  don't  you  —  doubt  it ! 
Saved  again  !  " 

••  Mr.  Vandyke  lias  a  waist-line,"  suggested 
Miss  Beebe,  too  much  entranced  by  her  ruling  idea 
to  reprove  this  audacity.  "  You  said  a  little  while 
ago  lie  was  a  '  lion.' " 

"•Oh,  yes,  but  —  he  's  bespoken/' 

"What!  Wh — what!"  Miss  Beebe's  repeti 
tion  came  feebly,  and  she  clutched  her  companion's 
arm.  "  Do  you  mean  he  's  —  engaged  ?  " 

'•  Well,  you  have  got  it  bad  !  "  commented 
Althea.  "  Pshaw,  no  !  I  only  mean  that  the  lion 
has  turned  into  a  lamb  for  the  time  being.  Did  n't 
you  see  that  Mrs.  Darling  had  a  pink  ribbon 
around  his  neck  ? 

'  And  everywhere  that  Molly  went, 
That  lamb  was  sure  to  go.'  " 

"  That 's  a  different  thing !  "  said  Miss  Beebe 
with  relief.  "  Of  course,  it 's  bad  enough,"  she 
added  hastily,  recollecting  herself,  with  a  tone  of 
severity,  "  but  he  can't  marry  her.  Where,  Althea 
Gay  lord,  do  you  suppose  Mr.  Darling  is  ?  " 

"  He  is  at  home  with  a  cold.  I  heard  her  tell 
somebody.  I  think  it's  a  frost,  myself,"  added 
the  girl  for  her  own  amusement,  although  aware 
that  she  was  squandering  a  penny. 


144 

-•  Eli?  Frosted  his  ears,  did  you  say?  That 
heartless  |ade  ! 

••  No.  no:    just  a  plain  cold.      No  trimming's."' 

Later  in  the  evening1  Miss  Beebe  encountered 
French  again. 

••  I  've  had  a  talk  with  that  pleasant  friend  of 
yours.  Mr.  \andvke,  she  said  with  interest. 

••()h!  Remembered  him,  did  you?  I  ve  no 
ticed  women  do.  without  respect  to  age  or  color." 

-Now.  look  her,'.  Willard."  --  .Miss  Luella 
lowered  her  yoice.  —  ••  that  man  is  wasting  his 
time  with  Mrs.  Dai  ling."' 

fc-  What  then  ?  " 

t-  Why,  tell  him  so,"  suggested  the  little  woman 
impetuously. 

'•  Thanks,  awfully  !      Xo!  " 

Miss  Beebe  gestured  emphatically.  "Mr.  Dar 
ling  is  in  Boston  to-night. 

'•  I  know  it." 

'•  As  little  as  he  is  here,  should  n  t  you  think 
she  "d  stay  home  with  him? 

*••  Should,  if  I  did  n't  know  her." 

'•  1  tell  you.  he  "s  sick." 

u  Well,  she  will  go  home  and  giye  him  an  enter 
taining  account  of  the  evening." 

"•  What  do  you  suppose  he  thought  of  her  com 
ing  here  "with  that  yery  striking  man?  " 

u  Took  it  for  granted,  and  will  call  it  square'  if 
she  will  only  bring  the  very  striking  man  home 
with  her." 


J/7SS    BEEBE'S    QUEST  145 

"  "What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  that  Darling  is  tremendously  taken 
with  Vandyke,  who  I  suspect  likes  him  much  bet 
ter  than  he  does  Molly.  They  hobnob  together 
over  their  books  and  that.  If  it  was  n't  for  Van's 
eyes,  he  'd  have  bored  Mrs.  Darling  stiff  long  ago. 
She 's  exhibiting  him  a  lot  these  days,  but  he 
doesn't  know  it.  lie  's  a  queer  duffer." 

"  How  long  before  lie  will  get  tired  of  it,  do  you 
think,  Willard?''  asked  Miss  Luella,  so  earnestly 
that  French  smiled. 

"  Ask  me  an  easier  one !  "  he  returned. 

That  night  before  retiring,  Miss  Beebe  opened 
her  door  and  closed  it  irresolutely  two  or  three 
times  before  she  at  last  hastened  down  the  corridor 
to  Mrs.  Carruth's  room  and  knocked. 

1 1  or  friend,  in  wrapper  and  flowing  hair,  admitted 
her.  She  looked  surprised  to  see  Miss  Beebe  with 
her  ornate  "  bang "  removed,  and  her  back  hair 
twisted  into  a  nub  the  size  of  a  walnut. 

"•  I  just  wanted  to  say,  Emeline,  —  I  really  felt 
as  if  I  could  n't  go  to  sleep  till  I  had  said  that 
I  —  I  admire  Mr.  Vandyke  immensely." 

Mrs.  Carruth  colored,  smiled,  and  accepted  the 
hand  that  her  friend  tucked  into  hers. 

"  Sharp  eyes,  Luella  !      You  have  sharp  eyes  !  " 

u  But  how  could  it  be  anybody  else  when  a  body 
has  once  seen  him  and  talked  with  him  ?  " 

Mrs.  Carruth  nodded  gravely.  "  He  seems  gen 
uine,  lie  wears  well,"  she  said. 


146 

••  I  shall  be  expiring'  to  hear  more,  burst  fun'; 
Miss  IWhe. 

'•  I  ]>rav  that  von  may  hear  more:  but  there  is 
nothing  to  tell  as  yet.  You  would  better  forget  all 
about  it. 

*•  I  low  can  I.  when  it  means  so  much  to  von?" 
Miss  Beebe  lowered  her  murmur  to  a  whisper,  and 
squeezed  her  friend  s  hand,  and  winked  au'ain  and 
again  as  she  continued:  ••  I  tried  to  get  her  10 
sing,  and  she  would  n  t.  She  made  him  take  sides 
with  her:  at  least  she  would  n't  let  him  say  any 
thing'.  I  think  it  really  looked  as  if  th,-v  hud 
an  understanding1. 

"Mrs.  Carruth  shook  her  liead.  ••  No.  that 
could  n't  be.  Margaret  i>  very  reserved,  and  they 
are  scarcely  more  than  strangers." 

Miss   Beebe  regarded  her  for  a  silent   instant. 

••  Well.  I  "m  going  to  say  my  prayers  !  "  she  an 
nounced  at  last,  with  something  like  a  tin-eat  in 
her  sibilant  emphasis. 

••That's  right."  —sadly,  --(iod  knows  I  say 
mine  often  enough.  Good-night.  Luella." 


CHAPTER  X 

MISS    GAYLORD    RECEIVES 

Tins  outing1  was  Miss  Beebe's  last  for  many 
a  long1  day.  Her  father's  rheumatic  malady  in 
creased  in  severity,  and  she  had  heart  and  hands 
too  full  to  send  more  than  occasional  thoughts 
toward  her  Boston  friends.  For  this  reason  Mar 
garet  Carruth  could  not  fulfill  her  promise  of  going 
to  Springdale,  —  a  relief  which  she  did  not  ex 
press.  Althea  was  disappointed,  more  on  account 
of  losing  a  possible  excursion  alone  with  her  ideal 
than  at  the  loss  of  hearing  her  friend  sing.  She 
worked  away  in  her  little  room  with  dogged  per 
sistence,  and  whenever  she  heard  Miss  Carruth 
refer  to  a  song,  she  promptly  bought  it  and  learned 
the  accompaniment,  thus  establishing,  as  she 
fondly  imagined,  one  more  link  between  them. 

Mrs.  Darling  had  not  sought  her  since  their 
one  exchange  of  calls,  and  the  shrewd  young  girl 
thought  she  knew  the  reason  for  this.  Her  own 
chances  for  being  drawn  into  her  vivacious  friend's 
inner  circle  had  been  lost  in  the  influence  that 
Burton  Vandyke  was  at  present  exciting.  Mrs. 
Darling  had  temporarily  lost  interest  in  those 
affairs  to  which,  had  she  decided  to  be  gracious  to 


148 

Althea,  she  "would  have  asked  her.  The  ti'irl  had 
seen  that  Willard  Freueh  stood  lii^'h  in  Mrs. 
Darling's  regard,  and  she  believed  that  through 
him  the  lady  would  have  come  to  recollect  her 
existence  from  time  to  time,  had  it  not  been  for 
the  eclipse  caused  l>y  \  andyke. 

Miss  (iavlonl  did  not  care.  It  amused  her  to 
'watch  Mrs.  Darling's  niameuvres,  as  she  occa 
sionally  had  opportunity,  and  the  satisfaction  of 
informal  calls  from  Miss  Carruth  and  the  com 
mendations  of  her  teacher  made  life  worth  living. 

She  had  laid  down  a  law  for  herself,  which  was. 
not  to  count  on  Willard  French,  (iuide  and 
philosopher  she  was  willing  he  .should  he:  hut 
friend  he  must  be  considered  only  in  the  most 
distant  sense.  She  soon  perceived  how  easy  it 
would  be  to  rely  on  tin*  pleasure  oi  seeing  and 
beiiiLi;  with  him,  and  as  their  paths  so  seldom  lay 
together,  how  insidiously  a  series  of  disappoint 
ments  would  undermine  the  firm  fabric  of  her 
independence.  When  this  conviction  came  to  her 
she  was  at  first  inclined  to  avoid  him  :  to  plan  her 
time  for  breakfast  and  dinner  in  such  a  way  that 
they  should  not  match  his. 

'•  I  know  you  like  a  book,  Alhe,'  she  said  to 
herself  sharply.  "  You  think  if  you  do  that,  he 
will  miss  you  and  hunt  you  up  !  But  he  would  n  t 
do  it  more  than  once.  lie  has  too  much  else  to 
interest  him.  Just  drop  him  ri<>'ht  out  of  your 
calculations,  honey.  He  is  n't  the  only  pebble  on 
the  beach." 


J/7Xtf    GAY  LORD    RECEIVES  149 

Upon  which  Miss  Gay  lord's  musings  strayed 
west  and  she  thought  upon  several  pebbles  whose 
faithful  epistles  bore  witness  to  their  determina 
tion  not  to  be  forgotten.  For  a  girl  whose  exist 
ence  had  been  so  full  of  pleasant  variety,  the 
change  to  this  present  humdrum  life  was  a  test  of 
good  temper  and  resource.  Althea  knew  it,  and 
sometimes  laughed  at  herself  at  the  pride  she  took 
in  u  not  giving  in."  At  first  her  habit  had  been 
to  wander  into  the  parlor  after  dinner,  knowing 
that  French  would  follow  her  there  to  have  the 
little  confab  which  preceded  his  going  out.  But 
the  first  evening  that  French,  finding  himself  short 
of  time,  had  failed  to  appear,  and  she  had  heard 
him  fleeing  up  to  his  room  two  steps  at  a  time,  the 
blank  feeling  of  disappointment  she  had  experi 
enced  started  her  on  the  line  of  reasoning  indicated 
above. 

Soon  it  began  to  happen  often  that  AVillard 
sought  without  finding  her  in  the  parlor ;  and  yet 
so  cleverly  did  she  arrange  matters,  that  there 
was  no  avoidance  to  be  suspected. 

Miss  Carruth  fell  into  the  way  of  lending  Al 
thea  the  books  she  had  been  reading,  and  although 
two  months  ago  Miss  Gaylord  would  have  dubbed 
them  all  prosy  and  discarded  them  instantly  as 
out  of  the  question,  now  her  devotion  led  her  to 
read  them,  carried  along  by  the  occasional  mar 
ginal  notes  in  the  precious  handwriting,  which 
were  like  oases  in  the  desert,  cheering  the  weary 
traveler  on  her  way. 


150 

Slic  was  sittiiiLi  j;i  her  room  thus  employed  on*- 
evening.  \\hen  ;i  knoeking  :it  the  neighboring  door 
attracted  her  attention.  There  \vas  silence,  tlien 
the  knocking  \\a-  repeated.  She  rose  and  went 
into  the  dinilv  lighted  hall.  ••  Mr.  I'Yench  is" 
sh,'  he^an.  then  panned.  ••  (  )h.  is  it  yon.  M'1, 
\  andvke  '!  M  r.  I'  reiieh  is  out. 

••Ah!  !  thought  perhaps  he  h.ad  fallen  a<leep. 
for  I  understood  him  to  sav  he  would  expect  me 
this  evening." 

••  No.  he  lias  gone  out. 

\  andyke.  as  he  spoke,  came  over  to  where 
Alt  hea  stood  by  her  door. 

••  1  do  remember  now.  Mr.  French  \>.  id  me 
von  were  a  neiu'lihoi1  ot  his  up  IHM'C.  he  eontinu"d. 

••  ^  es.  this  is  inv  work-room,  replied  Mi--,  day- 
lord.  ••  \\  on  t  voit  walk  in  '.' 

She  had  not  in  the  least  expected  to  say  it.  luit 
as  his  glance  wandered  involuntarily  toward  the 
li^'ht.  the  words  passed  her  lips:  and  in  another 
instant,  to  her  amusement.  Burton  \andyke  was 
in  her  room,  looking'  at  her  piano  and  the  niiiMc 
neatly  piled  np. 

*•  Sit    down,    won't    von?       she    asked,    and     he 
complied.     ••  I  can't   work  nights,  yon  understand, 
she  went  on.      ••  I    tried   it.  luit  the  hoarding-house 
worm    will    turn    quicker   than    any  othei1   sort,  and 
I  was  firmly  requested  to  cease. 

''I  suppose,  though,  there  is  no  law  against 
your  playing  to  me?"  asked  Vandyke,  regarding' 


JIISS    GAYLORD    RECEIVES  151 

her  with  some  interest,  and  recalling  what  French 
had  said  about  her  lonely  life. 

'•  You  ought  to  know.  I  believe  you  're  in  that 
business." 

••  Very  well,  then.  It  is  my  professional  opin 
ion  that  you  can  begin  at  once." 

••  What  are  you  going  to  charge  me  for  it?" 

'•  Oh  —  several  pieces,  probably." 

She  shook  her  head  slowly  and  favored  Van 
dyke  with  a  wink  which  considerably  surprised 
him. 

'•  I  can  come  right  into  your  own  field  and  beat 
you,"  she  remarked.  u  1  know  more  law  than 
you  do." 

'•  How  is  that?" 

k-  You  've  forgotten  the  S.  P.  C." 

Vandyke  smiled.  %i  Which  am  I,  child  or  ani 
mal?" 

Miss  Gaylord  shrugged  her  shoulders.  "  It 
would  be  all  one  to  you  after  I  began.  Thank 
you,  but  1  don't  play  to  people  who  are  accustomed 
to  hearing  Miss  Carruth.  Is  n't  she  the  sonl  of 
music  ?  It  always  seems  as  if  she  was  part  of  the 
piano  when  she  gets  at  it.  Have  you  heard  her 
sing  yet  ?  " 

"  No,  not  yet." 

"  Is  n't  it  queer  she  doesn't  like  to?  I  have  a 
lot  of  songs  that  she  knows,  and  sometimes  when 
she  is  here  I  play  the  accompaniment  of  one  to 
tempt  her.  Once  in  a  while  she  does  come  and 


look  over  me  and  limn  alon^'  a  little  :  lint  sli<> 
always  has  some  excuse  for  not  sin^'hi^'  out." 

••  ^  es.  always,  echoed  \  andvke.  as  the  ^irl 
waited.  ••  So  .-lie  conies  here  often,  does  >he'.'" 
lie  looked  aiiout  t  he  room. 

••  No.  not  often.  At  least  it  does  n  t  seem  often 
to  me.  tor  I  want  her  so  much  otteuer  :  lint  she 
like-  to  conie.  1  hat  s  what  1  111  proud  of.  It  is 
verv  odd.  She  glanced  up  at  him  thought  t'ullv. 
as  if  with  a  new  li^lit  In-caking  in  upon  her. 
"•  Why.  she  is  odd  !  I  never  looked  at  it  so  Ite- 
t'ore.  because  everything  in  her  lite  i>  so  —  so  con 
ventional,  so  cut  and  dried  and  marked  out  for 
her.  and  she  is  so  gracious  and  dignified  and  self- 
possessed.  She  s  a  lofty  girl,  that  s  what  1 
call  her.  but  >he  /'N  odd.  \\  hen  \on  think  that 
she  d  like  —  or  she  thinks  *he  d  like  to  come  out 
of  her  beautiful  home  and  rouidi  it  in  a  little 
place  like  this,  that  s  odd.  To  be  sure,  you  might 
sav  I  left  a  nice  home  myself  and  did  it  ot  my 
own  accord,  but  1  in  only  Althea  ( ia\  lord,  \vant- 
iu^'  to  j^'et  the  best  advantages:  while  she  has 
had  every  advantage,  and  she  is  Margaret  Car- 
rnth.  ri^'ht  in  the  top  of  the  swim,  where  every 
body  wants  to  be. 

She  paused,  and  her  visitor  nodded.  His  silence 
was  not  repressive,  however.  .II is  interest  and 
attention  were  evident. 

"She's  done  me  a  lot  of  ",'ood.  Have  you  no 
ticed  I  have  n't  said  a  slaii^' word  since  yon  came 
in  ?  " 


MISS    GAY  LORD   RECEIVES  153 

Vandyke  looked  surprised. 

"  One  m;iy  pop  out  at  any  minute.  You  just 
mention  it  if  it  does.'' 

••  Why  certainly,  Miss  Gaylord,  I'm  —  I'm 
sure  " 

"  Oh,  you  need  n't  feel  embarrassed  about  it. 
It 's  a  good  deal  of  a  bore  to  stop,  but  I  'm  doing 
it.  Miss  Magnet  does  n't  like  it." 

Vandyke  glanced  up  with  a  smile.  "  That  is  a 
very  pretty  name  Mr.  French  has  for  Miss  Car- 
ruth." 

Althea  nodded.  "  Speaking  of  her  having  an 
odd  streak,  of  course  the  oddest  thing  of  all  is  her 
refusal  to  sing,  and  do  you  know,  I  have  a  theory 
about  that." 

She  looked  so  expectant  that  Vandyke  re 
sponded  :  — 

k>  Not  a  secret,  I  hope." 

"  No.  It 's  a  poor  thing,  but  mine  own.  My 
theory  is  that  she  can't  sing  —  anything  to  speak 
of."  ' 

The  visitor  did  what  was  a  rare  thing  with  him. 
lie  laughed  appreciatively.  "  I  'm  afraid  that  is 
a  rather  poor  thing  —  that  theory  of  yours,  Miss 
Gaylord." 

"  Don't  you  be  so  sure  !  She  went  to  London 
and  studied." 

"  Yes  ?  " 

"  She  knew  well  enough  that  when  she  came 
back  people  would  expect  great  things  of  her. 


lias  she  ever  sjitiu1  since  she  came  hack  ?  Hardly 
at  all.  No\v.  when  I  ^;o  home.  I  just  dread  il  ! 
Kveryhody  ^  ill  expect  me  to  play  a  hundred  times 
better  ilian  1  can.  \\cll.  suppose  1  should  lot.k 
dignified  and  i^rave  and  refuse  to  play  at  all:  do 
\on  ,-iippose  inv  friends  would  believe  that  it  was 
because  I  was  such  a  fine  performer?  Not  much. 
They  "d  think  it  was  a  bluff,  and  that  !  was  a  fail 
ure.  ' 

••That  is  very  amusing,  remarked  the  g'uest  : 
and  indeed  he  seemed  to  find  it  so.  ••  ^  on  think, 
then,  that  your  Miss  Magnet  is  only  a  hypocrite 
after  all  '.'  " 

••No.  no!  Don  t  use  hard  name--!  She  s 
clover,  that  s  what  I  mean  :  and  goodness!  we 
ouu'ht  not  to  deny  her  a  little  recreation. 

••  I  hope  I  shall  see  yon  when  we  do  first  hear 
he;-  sin^-.  M  iss  ( Jaylord." 

••  "1  on  believe  she  can  do  it  '/ 

"  I  do." 

"  \\  hy  don  t   you  make  her.  then  '.'  " 

\and\ke  raised  Ins  eyebrows.  -•  \  never  hoard 
that  a  bird  who  could  sin<^  and  wouldn't  sin^ 
conhl  be  made  to  sin^'. 

••  Mine  could  —    my  mocking-bird." 

%-  I  low  did  you  do  it  ? 

'•  Gave  him  a  meal-worm." 

l"()h.  he's  prosy,"  thought  Alth(>a.  '•  Mr. 
French  would  have  laughed  at  that." 

Vandyke,    after    a    vairue   ••  I  I'm  !    '   had    urown 


MISS    GAYLORD    RECEIVES  1 0O 

thoughtful.  Miss  Gaylord  followed  the  direction 
of  his  eyes. 

"•  You  're  looking  at  that  box  on  the  wall,  are  n't 
you  ?  Everybody  wonders  what  it  means.  It  is 
for  contributions  to  the  poor  children's  fresh-air 
fund." 

"  And  are  callers  allowed  to  contribute  ?  "  asked 
Vandyke,  courteous  and  doubtful. 

bb  It  depends  on  ho\v  they  talk." 

lie  smiled  questioniiigly.  •'  Does  my  conversa 
tion  —  there  's  never  very  much  of  it  —  entitle  me 
to  the  privilege  ?  '' 

••  Knti tie.  you  to  the  privilege  !  Listen  to  the 
gentleman  !  You  '11  have  to  come  light  down  off 
that  pedestal,  my  dear  sir,  if  you  want  to  be  in 
that  !  That  is  a  slang-box,  Mr.  Vandyke.  Now, 
if  you  should  tell  me  that  you  think  I  *ve  been 
giving  you  a  song  and  dance  about  Miss  Magnet, 
you  could  give  the  poor  babies  a  nickel." 

"Well,"  rising,  "I  do  emphatically  think  you 
have  been  giving  me  a  song  and  dance  about  Miss 
Magnet.  There  !  A  coin  jingled  into  the  box, 
and  Althea  giggled  joyously.  "  Never  let  her 
know  your  precious  theory,  or  our  chances  of  hear 
ing  her  will  be  slimmer  than  before.  Good-night, 
Miss  Gaylorcl."  They  shook  hands.  "  Thank 
you  for  taking  me  in.  I  have  enjoyed  my  call 
very  much.  May  I  come  again  ?  " 

"  There  's  the  latch-string,"  remarked  Althea, 
with  an  airy  gesture  toward  the  door. 


150 

\\lien  his  sic]»  was  no  longer  heard,  -lie  gave 
vent  to  her  pent-up  emotion  in  an  astonishing  j>nx 
(/c  ,•«  u!. 

"Oh.  1  don  t  know,  she  sann1.  dancing  bade 
and  iorth  hetore  her  mirror  and  nodding  k;io\\- 
ingly  at  her  reflection.  '•  I  guess  I  'm  in  this  too. 
JMolly  Darling  !  She  smiled  at  a  sudden  t  houLjit 
and  paused  in  her  pirouetting.  ".Ju-t  wait  tiil  1 
sec  1'  renchy,  she  murmured. 

She  had  n't  long  to  \\ait.  onlv  until  the  next 
eveiiMig.  \\  illard  followed  her  from  the  dinner 
table  into  the  parlor  and  seated  himself  beside  her 
on  the  tete-a-tete  seat  where  their  confidential  chats 
had  usually  been  held.  '1  lie  parlor  at  Mr.-,  liar- 
lows  was  but  little  used  by  the  boarder.-,  and, 
except  tor  occasional  passing  m  and  out  ot  one 
and  another,  their  talks  were  seldom  di>turbed. 

••  \\  hat  have  you  been  dom^  with  vour-clf 
lately?  inquired  I*  rench.  ••  \  ou  seem  to  have 
been  very  busy  evenings." 

••  I  should  hope  I  was  busier  than  you.  (iay 
Being:" 

"  But  that  doesn't  answer  me." 

••\\liy.  what  do  you  suppose'.'  Studying  the 
dictionary,  of  course." 

kt  The  dictionary  ? 

k>  To  enlarge  my  vocabulary." 

••  I  dare  say.       Dictionaries  by  the  Duchess. 

k-  Don't  you  be  funny  now.  remarked  Althea 
\varningly.  *•  Your  glass  house  is  thin  to  gauzi- 
ness.'' 


(!  AY  LORD    RECEIVES  157 

"  I  don't  have  much  time  for  light  literature. 
That 's  a  fact." 

k>  I  don't  know  what  you  call  it  then,''  retorted 
Miss  Gay  lord.  "  Your  '  only  Looks  are  woman's 
looks  and '  —  far  l>e  it  from  me  to  say  what 
they  Ve  taught  you." 

French  met  her  eyes  quizzically.  "  Go  on,"  he 
said,  "  teach  me  some  more." 

She  gave  a  brief,  reluctant  laugh.  ••  As  if  I 
ever  taught  you  folly!  Here  I  give  you  the  ex 
ample  of  the  little  busy  bee,  week  after  week, 
and  what  good  does  it  do  ?  You  're  just  as  frivo 
lous  as  ever  !  Oh,"  she  added  less  severely,  k' I 
have  n't  been  studying-  all  the  time.  I  occasion 
ally  relieve  the  tension  by  a  little  society.  Ob 
serve  my  language,  Mr.  French." 

"•  I  sometimes  feel,  myself,  that  you  ought  to 
have  more  social  whirl,  as  it  were,  but  Mrs.  Dar 
ling,  to  whom  I  suggested  it,  seems  to  be  declin 
ing  a  lot  of  things  herself  lately.  Caprice,  thy 
name  is  Woman  !  " 

u  Not  the  name  of  that  woman.  Excuse  me. 
M  stands  for  Molly,  but  it  also  stands  for  the 
Method  that  is  in  some  people's  Madness.  She 
might  have  whirled  last  night  though,  without  los 
ing  anything." 

«  Why  ?  " 

"  Because  Mr.  Vandyke  was  with  me." 

"  Where  ?  "  asked  French,  surprised. 

"  Up  in  my  room,"  replied  Althea  in  a  tone 
implying  the  utmost  nonchalance. 


Io8 

••  Vandyke  called  on  you,  and  you  took  him  up 
there  '.' 

••  lie  came  ii|)  of  liis  o\\n  accord.  He  evidently 
has  i!  t  your  revised  edition  of  the  etiquette  lionk." 

'•(  Jood  work!      commented   !•  rem-h  pleasantly. 

.\Iiss  (iaylord  knotted  her  l)ro\v  protest  in^'lv. 
••Oblige  me  l>v  not  n>iug  !o\v  expressions.  .Mr. 
I-'reiich,  Ion  ought  to  have  heard  him  i;>-t  i  '-.hi. 
though,  she  added  gleefully,  ••  talking  -dang  to 
beat  the  iiand. 

>•  Vandyke!" 

Altliea  s  laugh  readied  Mrs.  Barlows  ears  m 
the  dininn'-room.  \  his  was  the  expression  ot  her 
coni])anion's  face  that  she  had  heeii  wait  MIL;'  tor. 

k-  \\  ell.  \on  are  a  Li'ood  teacher  of  iollv.  Mi» 
(iaylord.'' 

••^\o.  no!  ()f  colloquialisms  onl\.  my  friend. 
1  taug'lit  him  one.  |u~t  one:  I  don  t  lu-lie\c  he 
knew  any  Lefore.  and  he  said  it  and  came  up  to 
the  shuiLi'-hox  like  a  little  man  ! 

••Is  that  the  way  you  earn  your  money  lor  the 
fund?  If  that  isn't  sharp  practice  ! 

'•  Leave  off  the  <I.  and  you  have  it. 

"  Vt  ell.  by  .love!  you  did  wonders  to  ti'et  \  an- 
dyke  to  gambol!  trench  regarded  her  admir 
ingly. 

••  !>ut  we  were  serious  -  oh.  very  >erioii>.  most 
of  the  time."  .Miss  (.iaylord  s  mouth  grew  small 
with  sudden  dcmureiies.s.  ••  And  he  wdl  tell  vou 
that  there  are  no  man-traps  and  im  brimstone  in 
mv  room,  she  added  iniscliievou.slv.  * 


GAY  LORD    RECEIVES  159 

"  You  have  lots  of  fun  with  me,  don't  you  ?  " 
said  French. 

The  corners  of  the  girl's  twitching  lips  answered 
for  her. 

"  It  is  time  you  were  putting  on  that  dress  suit, 
is  n't  it  ?  "  she  suggested.  "  The  moths  will  be 
getting  into  it  if  you  're  not  careful." 

'•  No.     Vandyke  is  coming'  to  see  me  to-night." 

Miss  Gaylord  regarded  him.  "  I  think  you  are 
mistaken.1' 

"  Oh,  he  left  word  with  you  ?  " 

"  No,  hut  it  was  you  he  came  to  see  last  night." 

"  It  was  ?  " 

"Yes.  Of  course  I  couldn't  hear  to  hear  him 
knocking  there  in  vain,  and  battling  with  the  fury 
of  the  elements  out  in  the  hall ;  so,  in  common 
humanity,  I  asked  him  in/' 

'•  That  was  the  way  of  it  then  ?  He  misunder 
stood  me  as  to  the  night." 

"  So  much  clear  gain,"  suggested  Althea. 
"  You  have  an  evening  on  your  hands." 

French  looked  up.  "  Will  you  invite  me  to 
call?" 

"  It  strikes  me  you  are  calling." 

"  But  —  the  ground  is  too  neutral." 

"  The  sort  you  like." 

"  Not  now." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Vandyke  is  your  Christopher  Colum 
bus,  is  he  ?  " 

"  Don't  rub  it  in.  Ask  me  up.  I  want  to  talk 
into  your  slang-box,  too." 


100 

Miss  Gaylord  sat  immovable.  -' ^  ou  arc  dis- 
tincilv  not  invited.  >he  announced. 

"And  voa  laik  aliout  vour  humanity!  I  shall 
come  in  uninvited,  then. 

••  ( )h  no.  \  on  \von  t. 

"•  \  cs.  1  shall  sit  here  till  vou  L;O.  and  then 
escort  von.  \  audvke  has  seen  vour  music-room. 
\\'hy  should  n't  I  ?" 

"•  Sinijilv  lieeanse  it  is  niv  nui.^ic-rooni.  and  I 
don  t  cai'c  to  have  \'on. 

French  smiled.  •'  She  must,  snlk  her  little  sulk 
out.  must  slic  7  \\ell.  he  looked  at  Ins  \vatch. 
"••what  do  yon  sav  to  our  "'oin^;  to  the  theatre? 
~V\  ouli!  \'</n  like  to  7  " 

Miss  Ciaylord  looked  u]»  eai^'erlv.  ••  C 'an  a  duck 
s\vim  7  "  she  responded. 

••  A   nickel  for  the  l>ox.v  reniarl-:ed   Frencli. 

••  Then  don't  take  me  l>y  sni'])risc.  Is  it  time 
to  o-(-t  readv  7  " 

••  It   \vas  time  ten  minutes  ap>," 

Althca  lied. 


CHAPTER  XI 

DOUBTS    AXD    FEARS 

THE  New  England  spring  had  come  with  the 
penetrating  damp  chill  that  makes  the  cold  of  win 
ter  sink  into  insignificance.  Vandyke,  who  had 
been  spending  a  few  days  in  Philadelphia,  brought 
reports  of  budding  trees  and  mild  airs  when  he 
called  on  Miss  Carruth. 

u  You  have  discovered  Boston's  cloven  foot," 
she  said. 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  was  surprised  to  find  how 
glad  I  was  to  get  back.'' 

Margaret  could  not  meet  the  frank  look  with 
which  he  said  it,  but  she  did  not  acknowledge  to 
herself  that  she  had  been  waiting  —  waiting  for 
him  through  all  the  time  of  his  absence,  and  that 
for  her  now  all  was  well. 

"  Since  you  went  away,  mother  has  perfected 
her  plans  for  a.  concert  for  the  benefit  of  onr  hos 
pital,  and  she  has  asked  me  to  help  her.  It  is  the 
only  time  she  has  asked  me  to  sing  since  that 
afternoon  at  the  mission  long  ago." 

"  And  you  have  consented  ?  " 

"  What  else  could  I  do  ?  " 

«  Kef  use." 


1  (',2 

••  And  what  would  yon  have  said  if  I  had  re 
fused  ? 

'•  I  ho])e  J  should  have  liad  the  discretion  to  say 
not  inng. 

'•  But  von  would  have  thought 

v-  That  I  had  missed  another  chance  of  hearing 
you. 

'•You  must  have  lost  interest  in  the  matter  l>y 
this  time.  People  who  have  to  he  urged  to  sing 
are  tiresome. 

••  Perhaps  I  am  not  so  eager  lor  it.  as  [  \vas. 
Scarcely  had  the  answer  passed  his  !ip>  than  Van 
dyke  felt  disconcerted  l>v  ins  own  hluntness.  lie 
looked  anxiously  at  Margaret,  and  was  relieved 
to  perceive  the  calm  little  smile  with  which  she 
regarded  him. 

••There  are  plenty  o!  singers  your  mother  could 
engage."  he  suggested. 

••  But  she  would  rather  save  some  hundreds  of 
dollars  for  the  hospital."  said  .Margaret. 

••  I  should  think  you  would  teel  so  out  ot  prac 
tice.  —  so  out  of  the  wav  of  it. 

••  You  are  afraid  for  me.     said  the  girl. 

"••  Yes.  1  am."  he  agreed  honestly.  "  \  ou  might 
have  a  mortification  in  so  public  an  affair. 

'••Thank  you.  You  are  a  real  friend.  I  am 
greatly  surprised,  though,  that  you  offer  me  a 
loop-hole.  I  supposed  you  would  sa\  that  my 
mother's  wish  should  l>e  law. 

"  But   are  n't  you   nervous   al'out   doing  such  a 


DOUBT*    AND    FEARS  163 

thing  ?  This  is  very  different  from  singing  in 
holes  and  corners  for  charity." 

A  low  langli  escaped  Margaret.  "  What  a  fool 
ish  egotist  you  must  think  me  !  "  she  said. 

"  Why  do  you  say  that  ?  " 

"  Why,  you  must  believe  that  I  miscalculate  my 
own  powers." 

"  Xo,  no,  I  don't.  But  a  singer  needs  to  prac 
tice,  I  suppose." 

"  When  I  cannot  speak  I  shall  know  I  cannot 
sing,"  replied  Margaret.  "  Singing  is  more  of 
spirit  than  of  matter,  and  I  practice  a  great  deal 
—  mutely." 

"  What  a  conviction  yours  is  !  "  said  Vandyke 
in  amazement.  "  You  dare  to  raise  my  expecta 
tions  very  high." 

"  I  may  not  please  you,"  returned  the  girl, 
unmoved.  "  I  ought  not  to  care.  There  will  be 
individuals  whom  I  do  not  reach." 

Vandyke  looked  at  her  curiously  and  smiled. 
"I  object  to  having  you  call  me  an  individual. 
Then  you  are  going  to  sing  at  this  concert  ?  " 

Margaret  bowed  her  head. 

"  Very  well.  I  hope  it  will  not  bring  you  suf 
fering  in  any  form." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  answered,  stifling  the  dis 
appointment  his  attitude  was  to  her.  She  knew 
now  that  she  had  been  anticipating  his  unstinted 
approval  and  support. 

He  left  her,  himself  vaguely  discontented.     A 


164 

little  cloud  scorned  to  have  I-HCH  between  them. 
and  he  could  not  resist  an  an.xielv  as  to  Margaret  s 
success,  lie  did  not  ieel  certain  that  the  IOHM; 
])erioi!  of  brooding  and  re])ression  upon  tin--  sub 
ject  had  not  Jiad  its  eftect  in  unbalancing  her 
judgment.  \\hat  a  catastrophe  it  would  lie.  if 
shrewd  Althea  (Jaylords  theory  should  lie  vindi 
cated  by  reason  oi  the  lou^'  and  obstinate  -'dence 
Mi-;s  ('arrnth  had  maintained  ! 

As.  the  nii^'ht  for  the  concert  approached,  \an- 
dvkes  nervousness  i^rew.  lie  kept  awa.\  from  the 
Carrufh>'.  lest  they  should  discover  it.  and  thereby 
found  to  how  L-reat  a  decree  the  hon>e  on  Beacon 
Street  meant  Boston  to  !n:n. 

lie  called  on  M  r>.  i 'arlin^.  and  found  the  con 
cert  the  uppermost  thine;  in  her  nund  also.  It 
was  to  he  an  ultra-fashionable  affair,  and  -he  was 
busy  with  details  that  did  not  interest  \audvke. 

••  Margaret  ?  she  repeated,  in  ansv.er  to  one 
of  his  remarks  ••  (  )h.  yes.  she  is  o'oinii1  !()  ^m,^'- 
Jt  seems  it  needed  the  stimulus  ot  some  i;reat  oc 
casion  TO  inak'e  her  consider  the  effort  worth  her 
while. 

••^ou  ha\e  heai'd  he!'.   I  suppose? 

'••Of  course. —  do/ens  of  times  before  she  stud 
ied  in  London,  bnt  since  >he  returned  let  us 
see!  Think  what  a  rushing  life  \\e  lead  !  I  don  t 
believe  I  have  hen rd  her  once  ! 

"  ^  hat  is  her  voice  ?      \\  hat  is  its  ran^'e? 

'•  I  "in   siii'e    1    don't   know.      I    don't  pretend  to 


DOU/iTS    AND    FEARS  105 

be  musical.  It  is  —  I  fancy  it  is  a  mezzo.  Let 
us  call  it  a  mezzo.  That  sounds  so  delightfully 
vague." 

'•  Is  it  "  Vandyke  felt  himself  shrinking 

inwardly  from  the  reply  he  might  receive — "do 
you  consider  it  a  remarkable  voice?" 

Mrs.  Darling  knotted  her  brow  in  an  effort  to 
be  fair  and  explicit.  "  Margaret  has  what  I  call 
a  touching  voice,"  she  answered. 

"  Small,  then  ?  "  Vandyke  collapsed  still  fur 
ther. 

"  Xo,  oh  no  :  I  should  n't  say  small.  It  is  more 
than  a  year  since  I  've  been  in  the  way  of  hearing 
her  much,  but  I  know  she  has  often  made  me  cry. 
AVait  till  you  hear  it,"  added  Mrs.  Darling,  a  lit 
tle  impatient  of  this  interest  ;  "  then  I  should  be 
glad  to  know  your  opinion." 

AYith  this  small  satisfaction  Vandyke  was  forced 
to  content  himself,  and  although  it  was  Sunday 
afternoon,  and  his  hostess  was  piqued  by  his  dis 
trait  excuses,  he  soon  found  himself  on  the  street 
again,  wandering  aimlessly  about,  and  looking  at 
the  mental  picture  which  had  for  days  been  haunt 
ing  him  :  Margaret  Carruth  on  the  stage  before  an 
audience  of  Boston's  elect,  critical  at  all  times, 
but  now  doubly  so  that  home  talent  had  been 
selected  to  support  the  famous  baritone  engaged 
to  electrify  them.  lie  saw  the  girl  make  a  petty, 
amateurish  success,  heard  her  work  politely  ap 
plauded,  patronized,  damned  with  faint  praise, 


while  possiblv  her  <)\vn  l);lic!  iii  her  powers  coil- 
tinned  unimpaired,  and  MI  her  iniatuation  she  con 
tinued  \\T;i]>[>cd  in  dreams  of  the  impossihle. 

Miss  ( iavlovd  ini^hl  ihe'.i  ti'iiini])h,  but  she  would 
no!  :  she  \vas  too  warmly  attached  to  Miss  Carnl'i 
for  that.  Yes.  Miss  (iavlord  in  her  \v;;v  certainh 
appreciated  ?>iiss  (.'arvuth.  He  would  j^o  to  see 
Miss  (iaylord.  The  decision  c:;me  to  Vandvke 
suddenly,  and  altered  his  ;..••;,:;  1:1  an  instant.  \Vil- 
lard  Freneli  too.  fie  liad  n  t  seen  hnn  since 
since  tins  responsibility.  l!ns  nightmare,  had  eoiue 
upon  him.  Laler.  ])ei>ha])s,  he  would  run  in  and 
see  i'  reiiel:  :  l;ui.  \\\^\  now  Jie  knew  thai  he  svauted 
Mi--  (i.i'^loi-d  and  her  whole-hearted  |)i'attle. 

Arrived  at  the  door  in  Newlnirv  Street,  the 
jnaal  directed  him  to  \\alk  up  to  Althca  s  rooin. 
lie  declined,  and  (irmly  |)resented  the  liit  of  paste 
board,  which  the  <i'irl  a^'aiu  ignored. 

-•  Miss  (iavlovd  has  callers  there  now.  and  YOU 
can  walk  ri^'ht  up,"  she  repeated. 

So  Vandyke,  remembering  the  proximity  of  an 
arl\  of  safety  in  i  he  shape  of  French's  apartment, 
complied  with  the  invitation.  As  he  approached, 
the  sound  ot  Miss  (i  ay  lord's  laughter,  mingled 
with  a  man's  voice,  came  to  liis  ears,  lie  knocked 
at  ihe  door,  which  \\as  ajar,  and  Altliea  opened  it. 

••  llo\v  do  you  do,  Mr.  \andvke?  \  t -.  lie  is 
here,"  she  said  in  welcome. 

••  I  did  n  t  come  to  see  him.  whoever  he  is.  I 
came  to  see  yon." 


AND    FEARS  167 

"  Why,  how  nice !  Come  in.  Virtue  is  its  own 
reward,  for  you  will  find  Miss  Carruth  and  Mr. 
French,  both.'' 

Yes.  There  sat  Margaret,  beautifully  dressed, 
smilingly  at  ease,  with  no  suggestion  about  her  of 
the  heroine  of  Vandyke's  woeful  day-dreams. 

"  1  am  teaching  Miss  (iaylord  how  to  make  the 
best  tea  yon  ever  drank  in  your  life,"  announced 
French,  as  the  new-comer  took  oft'  his  overcoat, 
responding  gladly  to  the  geniality  of  the  atmos 
phere. 

k>  And  I  '11  drink  out  of  the  mug,"  said  Althea. 
'•Miss  Magnet,  we  didn't  expect  to  become  so 
popular,  did  we  ?  " 

"  Mug!  Tush,  tush!  "  remarked  French,  busy 
over  the  kettle.  "  One  of  you  go  into  my  room 
and  bring  forth  the  best  Ixoyal  Worcester." 

"  Let  me,"  said  Vandyke,  with  vague  alacrity. 
"  What  did  you  say  ?  Where  ?  " 

"•  I  "11  do  it."  Miss  Carruth  rose.  "  Willard's 
cups  are  sure  to  be  dusty." 

u  Just  because  you  won't  marry  me,  Magnet !  " 
groaned  French. 

"'  Perhaps  I  'm  waiting  to  be  asked,"  she  an 
swered  as  she  left  the  room. 

'"  Take  this  seat,  Mr.  Vandyke.  This  shoe-box 
is  just  the  right  height  for  me,"  said  Althea. 
u  We  may  be  short  on  cups  and  chairs,  but  we 
have  hospitality  to  —  spare.  It 's  awfully  nice  of 
you  to  come  up." 


108 

Vandyke  >i:ii!ed    ins  thanks  at   the  speaker  and 

tl:en  al  Miss  '  arrnth,  who  umv  entered,  bearing'  a 
c:ij)  and  saucer.  !!cr  Lj'racefid  and  decided  move 
ments  pleaded  liiiu.  and  he  lho::idil  oi'  their  eif'ec- 
tiveness  on  the  occasion  oi'  the  concert. 

-•  It  is  very  convenient  to  have  a  neighbor  with 
swei!  table-furniture."  said  Althea,  receiving  the 
en j*  admiriii'.vly. 

••  i  look  the  prettiest  one  lie  had>  announced 
.Mar-are;. 

k- Of  course.      There    is   nothing   too    ti'ood    fora 


••  I  in  thinking  oi  di'inking1  out  ot  this  m\ •>(•!!',"' 
remarked  M  iss  (  htviord. 

Willaid  shook  his  he:«l  at  her.  ••  That  isn't 
the  \vav  I  ha\e  iin.inu'in  \'ou  up.  little  one."  he 
reminded  her  gently.  "Give  t!ie  liest  to  ih^  eoin- 
|>anv.  always.  Don  t  von  rememLer  ? 

••(lirls  lirst  and  boys  the  bi^'est."  smiled 
Althea.  "That  \vas  the  rule  niv  mother  used,  to 
li'et  around  mv  brothers.  It  \vas  the  way  she  kept, 
peace.  Roys  are  <;ieh  u'recdv  animals.  One  of 
my  cups  is  l>i'_^er  tlian  this." 

••  Rash  ^ir!  !  said  French.  "  \  andykc  and  I 
were  hoys  once  ourselves. 

"Oh,  there  are  plenty  of  thing's  to  remind  us 
of  that." 

"•Von  will  excuse  my  ward.  Vandyke.  Her 
nerves  are  all  on  ed^'e  from  the  repiv.->ion  of  the 
slant;'  she  bronti'ht  with  her  from  tin-  wilds  of  Colo- 


DOUBTS    AND    FEARS  1G9 

raclo.  I  try  not  to  be  too  hard  on  her.  We  've 
all  had  her  trouble  in  some  form.  Now,"  -  —  to 
Althea,  —  "  watch  me,  my  young  friend.  You 
don't  want  to  be  afraid  to  take  off  the  lid  of  the 
tea-pot  and  stir  the  contents  a  little."  French 
suited  the  action  to  the  word. 

"  If  that  tea  is  as  good  as  he  thinks  it  is,  shan't 
we  enjoy  it  ?  "  remarked  Miss  Carruth. 

"  I  'in  going  to  pour  it,"  announced  Althea 
hurriedly,  as  AVillard  lifted  the  pot.  '•  It  "s  my 
room,  and  I  trill  pour  the  tea, !  You  can  pass  it." 

So  she  ensconced  herself  in  triumph  behind  the 
table,  and  French,  when  all  were  served,  subsided 
upon  the  shoe-box,  and  they  had  a  cosy  time. 

"•  ^No\v  for  music,"  said  Vandyke  contentedly, 
when  the  hot  water  was  exhausted,  and  only  one 
wafer  remained  for  manners. 

"  Althea  is  going-  to  play  for  us  to-day,"  said 
Miss  Carruth.  u  In  her  own  room  she  can 
scarcely  refuse." 

•••  Then  I  should  n't  be  like  some  people,"  said 
Miss  Gaylord,  with  a  little  significant  laugh. 

^  I  don't  refuse  to  play,"  said  Margaret,  smiling 
too  ;  "  and  I  believe  you  refuse  to  sing." 

"  Only  because  it  makes  my  audience  so  sad," 
said  Althea.  "  1  '11  sing  when  I  want  you  to  go 
home." 

"  Have  you  heard  about  the  concert  for  St. 
Timothy's  Hospital,  Miss  Gaylord  ?  "  Vandyke 
asked  it. 


L70 

••  Indeed,  3  have.  If  is  coming  at  last —  that 
:•;;/];)  we  ve  waited  !<>r  so  long'. 

She  met  Vandyke's  earnest  gaze  ;uul.  sivued, 
LVint'nil icring'  i  heir  i alls. 

rin  sjuiL1  made  him  restless.  If  she  ^(\\\  be 
lieved  what  she  had  said,  how  could  >he  smile  at 
an  impcjii  ling'  I  ragedv  '/ 

Slh'  L'ose  and  svent  to  the  piano.  ••  My  mother 
ni:-  iiji  !o  |)i::\  \\  hen  i  was  a-ked. 
.'••'lie  used,  su-.-h  a  comforting  argument.  She  al 
ways  said.  ••  l>  they  don't  like  it  they  "II  never  ask 
von  aii'ain  !  \o\v  I  in  going  to  j>!a\  something', 
j'list  t";>  ]>ave  t'iie  wa\'  j'oi1  Ali-s  Mau'iiet.  and  th;-n 
\ve  il  have  a  hang-up  I  mean  a  real  good  Mine. 
{  'ni  seared  si  ill',  ii;,i  no  matter." 

She  played  very  carefully  a  song  "without   words, 
and    '\vhile     hei'     anu  ence     were     saving     pL 
thing>  she  Mull-  i  over  a    pile  oi'  mn   ;   .  an     rdviiig 
therefrom    a    song,    began    to    ji'ay    1  he   accompani 
ment,  smiling  over  at   Miss  ('arruth. 

'•  J  heard  thai  *  Israfel  was  going  to  he  one  of 
vour  songs  at  the  concert.  M>  I  ve  learned  it.  she 
said  triumphantly.  *•  Let  us  make  her  rehearse 


now. 


••  .Now  that  we  are  quite  hy  ourselvt^s,"  -aid 
French  coaxing'ly,  advancing1  and  offei'ing  his  aim 
to  Margaret,  \andyke  said  nothing.  lie  almost 
di'eaded  hei-  acceptance. 

l-  The  room  is  too  .v.aail.  \\rjllard,"  she  answered 
hastily. 


DOUBTS    AND    FEARS  171 

"  Oh !  the  caprices  of  a  prima  donna !  "  ex 
claimed  French,  straightening-  up. 

Miss  Can-nth  heard  the  hint  of  sarcasm.  "  It 
really  is  too  small,  Willard,"  she  said  pleadingly. 

"  And  your  own  music-room  would  be  too  large, 
I  suppose." 

"  If  you  will  let  me  play  to  you  I  shall  be  glad 
to,"'  she  said  humbly. 

She  did  play  several  times,  and  then  a  glance  at 
her  watch  showed  her  that  her  carriage  must  be 
waiting.  She  made  her  adieux  to  Althea,  and 
Vandyke  immediately  did  likewise. 

"  If  I  can  set  you  down  anywhere,  Mr.  Van 
dyke,  I  shall  be  pleased,"  she  said  as  they  reached 
the  curb. 

"  Thank  yon.  I  should  like  to  drive  home  with 
you." 

lie  followed  her  into  the  coupe  and  closed  the 
door.  Neither  spoke  until  Newbury  Street  had 
been  left  behind.  Then,  he  looked  at  her,  and  saw 
that  her  eyes  were  suspiciously  moist. 

"  These  are  exciting  days  for  you,"  he  said 
hastily. 

She  answered  with  a  careful  self-possession 
which  showed  some  self-conquest. 

"  I  should  like  to  believe  that  you  at  least  un 
derstand  that  I  am  —  am  in  training.  I  had  good 
reason  to  decline  to  rehearse  with  Miss  Gaylord 
this  afternoon.  I  cannot  explain  —  unless  you 
understand." 


172 

*•  I  :un  ashamed  not  to  understand,  since  yon 
allow  it.  \  on  arc  afraid  of  vour  own  emotion- 
Jility  ?  " 

She  did  not  reply.  l>ut  averted  her  eyes  to  th" 
passing  vehicle^. 

••  You  do  mystify  me."  said  Vandyke  quietly: 
then  letting  his  agitation  appear,  lie  hurried  on. 
"•  1  am  anxious  about  the  whole  tiling.  I  don  t 
understand.  Vv  hat  is  it  you  intend  to  do  7  Is  it 
possible  yon  mean  to  face  Mich  an  audience  as  that 
vail  be.  without  rehearsal?" 

His  tone  had  <j'rown  brusque.  His  companion 
looked  around  at  him  in  surprise. 

••  i>v  no  means.  'I  he  rehearsals  will  be  all  uoiie 
through  with  in  due  order.  "l  on  do  not  believe  in 
me.  Mi1.  Vandyke.  \  ou  are  afraid  forme.  \  on 
])erhaps  think  that  I  shall  mortify  my  friends." 
Her  tone  ^vew  cold.  ••  By  all  means  remain  away 
from  the  concert.  I  shall  not  be  hurt. 

••  Impossible!  I  must  be  there:  but  it  means 
so  much  to  me.  It  is  such  a  ^'reat  tiling  yon  un 
dertake,  such  a  test  of  any  artist  s  abilities. 

His  excitement  awoke  an  answering'  thrill  in 
her.  ••  It  means  so  much  to  me!  The  phrase 
would  sound  in  her  heart  of  hearts  for  da\s  to 
come.  She  thought  she  understood  at-la.-t,  -nd 
rosy  color  stole  over  her  cheeks,  while  her  eyes  pvw 
soft,  still  •i'azin^'  as  before  upon  the  passers-by. 

At  last  she  looked  around  at  him.  ••  1  do  com 
prehend  the  situation."  she  said  gently.  k-  I  un- 


DOUBTS    AND    FEARS  173 

derstand  all  its  requirements.  You  need  not  fear 
for  me.  As  soon  as  I  promised  to  sing  I  began  to 
work.  I  shall  be  ready." 

When  they  stood  before  her  house  he  refused  to 
enter,  but  Mrs.  Carruth,  happening  to  be  at  a  win 
dow,  saw  him  stand  with  lifted  hat  and  Margaret's 
hand  in  his  for  a  long  enough  period  to  make  her 
wonder  what  was  passing  between  them.  She 
retreated  from  the  window  before  Margaret  ran 
up  the  steps,  and  the  great  door  of  the  house 
clanged  after  her. 

A  sound  —  a  strange  and  unusual  sound  — 
greeted  Mrs.  Carruth's  charmed  ear. 

"  What  !  "  she  thought  eagerly.  "  Can  it  be 
possible  that  Margaret  is  humming?  " 

"  Where  are  you,  mother  ?  "  called  the  girl. 

"  Here,  dear,  in  the  music-room." 

The  girl  entered,  her  face  beaming,  and,  with 
unwonted  demoiistrativeness,  she  threw  her  arms 
about  Mrs.  Carruth  and  kissed  her.  "  I  have  had 
such  a  pleasant  call  at  Althea's  !  " 

'•  That  is  good.  I  saw  that  Mr.  Vandyke  came 
home  with  you.  Why  did  n't  you  bring  him  in  ?  " 

'*  I  don't  know.  Oh  yes ;  he  could  n't.  He 
has  a  business  acquaintance  in  town  whom  he  has 
to  meet." 

"  Altliea  is  so  amusing  !  "  added  Margaret  with 
a  little  laugh,  as  she  flitted  out  of  the  room  again. 

"  It  is  coming  !  "  thought  Mrs.  Carruth  ;  and 
she  closed  her  eyes  in  mute  thanksgiving. 


CHAPTKR    XII 

TIIK    CONCMKT 

ALTHKA  ( JAYLOIM).  Willard  French.  ;ui<l  !>ur~ 
toii  Vandyke  were  guests  in  Mrs.  (  'arrut  h'^  bu\ 
on  the  evening  of  the  concert .  ""llieir  ho.ste.is.  ;i< 
she  had  warned  them,  had  too  manv  cares  on  her 
mind  to  settle  into  her  place  promptly.  Miss 
(iavlord  and  French  Found  Vandyke  Maniim;;'  at 
the  bad-;  of  the  box  \vhcii  thev  arrivi!d. 

As  lie  greeted  them  he  commented  on  the  bril 
liancy  of  the  already  overflowing  hou-^c. 

••  Why.  of  course."  returned  French.  ••  \\  hen 
Mrs.  Carrnth  undertakes  a  tiling  of  this  sort,  it  is 
a  foreordained  success. 

As  Althea  seated  herself,  \  andyke  leaned  over 
her. 

"I  low  aliout  your  theory  now.  Mi>s  (iavlord  '/  " 

kk  I  don  t  know  what  to  think  !  '  I'cplicd  the 
li'irl.  '•  I  know  the  si^ht  of  this  ^reat  audience 
unnerves  me.  I  low  did  she  dare?  V\  hat  \\ill 
she  do?  '  She  ^ave  an  ap])ealin»'  look-  up  into 
Vandyke's  iace  and  then  turned  further  around 
nntil  her  eyes  met:  French's.  "Aren't  you  fright 
ened  for  her?  she  asked. 

"For  Magnet?      No,"  he    replied  complacently. 


THE    CONCERT  175 

'k  I  never  knew  her  to  flunk  in  anything'.  If  she 
should  get  a  little  stage  fright  I  should  think  she 
had  brought  it  on  herself  by  her  unaccountable 
hanging  back  this  winter.  How  can  she  expect 
to  be  comfortable  before  the  public  if  she  won't 
sing  in  the  bosom  of  her  family?" 

"  But  this  is  a  very  large  undertaking,"  declared 
Vandyke.  "  How  should  Miss  Carruth  be  ex 
pected  to  supplement  an  artist  like  Ramsay  here 
in  her  own  city?"  He  envied  French  his  placid 
ity.  His  own  excitement  rose  from  time  to  time 
in  waves  of  painful  feeling.  "  Do  you  really  an 
ticipate  a  success  for  her  ?  " 

"Of  course1,"  returned  French  calmly.  "Mag 
net  has  one  of  the  voices  that  go  right  in  where 
people  live,  somehow.  I  've  scarcely  heard  her 
since  she  came  back  :  but  if  she  sings  as  well  as 
she  did  before  she  studied  across  the  water,  you  '11 
see  she  will  please  the  audience.  She  does  n't 
put  on  any  frills  and  trills  and  things,  but  she 
gets  there  every  time.  I  felt  downright  angry 
with  her  that  afternoon  up  in  Miss  Gaylord's 
room.  She  will  have  to  give  some  pretty  good 
music  to  soothe  this  savage  breast." 

Here  both  men  rose,  for  Mrs.  Carruth,  in  a 
superb  toilet,  came  up  from  the  stage  door  and 
appeared  at  the  back  of  the  box. 

The  occupants  of  the  boxes  011  either  side  of  her 
kept  her  busy  for  a  minute  returning  their  greet- 
in  o'S. 


17C 

g-  Yes.  that  is  Mrs.  Carruth.  the  head  of  I1;- 
whole  al'iair.  said  one  ladv  to  a  stranger  ^'uest. 
"She  is  a  power.  I  tell  vou.  when  she  uiidci 'lak-'s 
to  make  anything  a  fashionable  success.  It  is 
her  daughter  who  is  u'oia^-  to  sin^1.  I  hear  tliat 
the  u.irl  studied  with  \  iviani.  but  she  li:i--  been  ia 
IJoston  nearly  all  winiei1.  a:id.  so  far  as  I  can 
learn,  no  one  ha.  heard  her  sin^1  a  note.  I  can  t 
learn  that  she  has  l>een  heard  at  the  smallest 
soiree:  not  even  in  her  mother  s  house.  It  is  the. 
strangest  tiling  I  ever  I-;new  of.  I  should  think 
Kverett  Ivamsay  s  sensations  would  have  been  odd 
when  lie  found  his  companion  artist  was  to  l»c  an 
amateur.  Think  of  the  price  of  seats  too  :  lnu  if  is 
Mrs.  ('arrnth.  so  no  one  will  complain.  I  m  :.vlad 
they  have  the  word.-  printed  on  the  programme. 
\\  hat  is  the  iirst  sone;  Miss  Carruth  is  ^'oiii^1  to 
sin^?  If  it  isn't  •()  rest  in  the  Lord!'  What 
an  odd  selection:  and  did  you  ever  hear  of  such 
daring!  Think  of  her,  merely  a  society  Li'srl,  put 
ting  herself  in  comparison  with  the  LTreat  singers 
of  the  world  !  And  \vhat  is  that  other?  •  Isral'el  !  ' 
.1  never  heard  of  it.  It  seems  to  me  it  would  have 
l>een  more  sensible  to  choose  something'  people 
were  familiar  with."  etc..  etc. 

While  this  harangue  was  Imoldinv;  forth.  \  an- 
dvke  had  seated  hiniM-li'  heinnd  Mrs.  ('arriith. 
Mrs.  Darling  from  her  box  opposite  watched  his 
iine  head,  thrown  into  relief  by  the  ermine  wrap 
towai'd  which  he  leaned.  She  wanted  that  face 


THE    CONCERT  177 

In  proximity  to  her  own  tiara.  She  had  been 
angry  when  she  found  her  early  invitation  not 
early  enough,  and  a  little  worm  of  envy  gnawed 
in  her  now. 

"  lie  will  come  pretty  soon,"  she  comforted  her 
self. 

Vandyke  noticed  that  his  hostess  was  pale. 
That  would  be  natural  under  such  stress  of  labor 
as  had  been  hers  of  late  ;  yet  the  strained  look 
might  not  proceed  from  that  cause. 

"Have  you  seen  your  daughter  recently?"  he 
asked,  striving  not  to  let  his  anxiety  appear. 

The  smiles  of  greeting  died  from  Mrs.  Car- 
ruth's  face,  and  she  turned  upon  him  gravely  with 
a  look  of  such  foreboding  that  his  heart  hurried 
its  beat. 

"  I  have  just  left  her.  Mr.  Vandyke,  I  have 
made  a  great,  great  mistake  !  " 

"  How  could  you  do  it ! "  he  exclaimed  with 
poignant  reproach  ;  then  :  "  It  is  too  late  to  ask  it 
now.  Xo,"  with  another  impetuous  change,  "  it 
is  not  too  late  !  Have  her  excused  !  Refund  the 
money  !  Anything  !  " 

Mrs.  Carruth  regarded  him  in  surprise.  "  You 
thought  I  meant  that  Margaret  was  frightened  ? 
No,  she  is  not  afraid." 

"  You  are,  then !  "  ejaculated  Vandyke  in  the 
same  low  tone,  veiled  by  the  applause  that  greeted 
the  entrance  of  the  orchestra  and  its  celebrated 
leader.  "It  is  the  same  thing.  Stop  it!  Don't 


1  7S  ,\     i, a  EAT    LOVE 

let  it  go  on  !  It  is  too  much  to  ask  —  to  ex 
pect." 

The  lady  regarded  linn  wonderinglv,  but  it  was 
a  smile  of  subdued  gratification  into  which  her 
look  changed.  "  There  is  no  fear  of  her  failure. 
It  is  not  that."'  She  longed  to  continue,  to  pour 
into  the  pale,  speaking  face  her  confidences,  her 
fears.  In  that  moment  she  loved  this  man  \vh<> 
was  to  be  her  deliverer. 

But  her  position  constrained  her.  She  must 
pay  attention  to  the  opening  number.  As  soon 
as  it  closed,  she1  turned  again  to  \  andyke.  \vho 
was  waiting  attentively,  even  while  mechanically 
joining  in  the  applause. 

'•I  meant  at  lirst  to  make  this  a  comparatively 
small  affair,  and  I  urged  .Margaret  to  help  me. 
It  has  grown  into  these  proportions  almost  with 
out  mv  realization.  Only  now  when  1  went  into 
her  dressing-room  —  ami  saw  her--  I  realized! 
I  had  put  before  her  the  very  thing  I  dreaded.  i 
wonder  if  yon  know  —  her  wishes 

"Yes,  I  know."  The  eloquent  brown  eves  gave 
back  gloom  for  gloom. 

"  And  you  agree  with  me?"  The  question  was 
an  appeal. 

"•  I  do.  I  do  agree  with  you."  he  said  acutely. 
"  Would  that  yon  had  not  drawn  her  into  this 
thing  !  "  The  impassioned  manner  and  stifled 
tone  drove  the  red  to  Mrs.  Tarruth's  pale  cheeks. 

She  regarded  him    gravely,   significantly,  for  a 


THE    CONCERT  179 

silent  instant.  "•  AYith  yon  to  help  me,  it  shall 
be  the  last  time,"  she  said  slowly. 

lie  nodded,  too  tense  with  apprehension  and 
excitement  for  this  present  occasion  to  have  regard 
to  a  future. 

A  famous  violinist  was  bowing  to  the  greeting 
of  the  house.  The  orchestra  accompanied  his 
florid  performance,  and  when  it  was  over  Vandyke 
waited  in  torture  for  the  hand-clapping  to  cease. 

It  seemed  to  him  amid  that  sea  of  faces  that  he 
was  alone.  Margaret  Carruth  was  to  come  next 
011  the  programme  with  the  great,  simple  aria  so 
unsuited  to  the  powers  of  the  average  singer  ;  and 
even  her  mother's  face  showed  that  she  was  mo 
menta  rilv  absorbed  in  the  work  of  the  artist  who 
had  just  ceased. 

He  felt  the  perspiration  at  the  roots  of  his  hair. 
Such  sensations  he  had  known  once  before  when 
as  a  boy  in  the  dentist's  office  he  had  awaited  the 
appearance  of  the  forceps. 

Would  these  fools  insist  upon  an  encore  and 
prolong  his  agony?  Yes,  yes !  Encore  the  man. 
It  would  give  ten  minutes'  grace.  In  the  mean 
time  the  building  might  take  fire,  or  Margaret 
might  faint.  lie  joined  frantically  in  the  effort 
of  the  violin  enthusiasts,  and  who  knows  but  that 
it  was  this  infusion  of  vigor  into  the  applause 
that  won  the  boon? 

At  all  events,  the  violinist  played  again.  Prob 
ably  it  was  very  wonderful.  He  did  his  work 


ISO 

quite  alone  Ihis  time,  and  tlic  memLers  of  the 
orchestra  tapped  on  their  stands  with  their  !>o\\^ 
when  In-  finished,  and  looked  interested. 

\andvke  sank  i>a:-k  in  In-  (  hair  ai:d  him0,'  his 
thumbs  in  his  pockets,  ior  his  cold  hands  exasper 
ated  him  by  their  unsteadiness.  His  tongue  t'el: 
dry  when  the  house  ^rew  still.  Mrs.  ('arrnth 
turned  and  i^ave  him  a  look  of  resignation,  to 
which  he  made  no  re-police. 

A    breaking1    ont   ot    applause   aua;n    galvanized 


eagerly,  and  smiling.  \andvke  raised  hiniself 
slowly  and  looked  at  the  Ma^'o.  Margaret  \\as 
already  standing  before  the  foot  li^hl  -.  bo  \\iiiL;-  her 
acknowledgment  of  a  ^'eiierons  :_nve!  in^1. 

After  the  one  inclination  oi  the  head  sho  --tood 
nnmo!»ile  in  her  white  j^'own.  such  nncoii>cions 
dignity  and  ease  in  her  oearinu'.  that  a^'ain  the 
lilood  rushed  to  Vandykes  forehead  and  heat  in 
Ins  ears  as  the  orchestra  bewail  1o  play.  Memories 
flitted  through  his  mind:  of  th.e  girl's  lii'st  con- 
iidences  to  him  under  the  idol  s  Mind  snide,  of  her 
repeated  and  pained  refusals  to  u'rant  her  friends 
requests,  ot  her  assurance  and  her  endurance. 

Now  the  time  had  come.  She  stood  read\  to 
ti'ive  the  message  with  which  her  full  heart  pulsed, 
and  one,  knowing  her  as  he  did.  read  it  in  the 
uplifted  look  on  her  calm  l»row.  the  Mihtle  smile 
on  her  14'rave  lips.  As  he  watched,  his  tear  passed. 
He  did  not  reason,  but  lie  felt  the  adequacy  ex- 


THE    CONCERT  181 

pressed  in  the  fine  presence,  the  serene  attitude  ; 
he  waited,  spell-bound,  — lie  knew  not  for  what. 

lie  felt  a  sob  disturb  the  ermine  beside  him. 
Mrs.  Carriith  turned  from  Margaret's  face  and 
met  his  eyes  with  a  strange  gaze. 

"•  And  rejoiceth  as  a  strong'  man  to  run  a  race," 
she  murmured. 

Then  the  singer's  lips  parted,  and  she  sang :  — 

"  O  rest  in  the  Lord,  wait  patiently  for  Him, 
And  llo  shall  give  theo  thy  heart's  desire.'7 

The  roundness,  the  clearness,  the  tenderness  and 
conviction,  the  strength  of  that  promise  !  How  it 
reached  and  clave  to  the  soul  of  every  listener  in 
that  hushed  assemblage  ! 

Curiosity,  tolerance,  leniency,  were  all  forgot 
ten.  Was  the  voice  large  or  small,  .who  knew? 
It  touched  the  vulnerable  spot  in  every  heart  and. 
called  each  one  higher. 

"  Commit  thy  way  unto  Him,  and  trust  in  Him." 

Women's  hands  sought  each  other,  husbands'  eyes 
sought  wives',  and  wives'  husbands'.  Molly  Dar 
ling  forgot  the  dark  head  leaning  over  the  ermined 
chair  opposite,  and  her  breath  came  softly  between 
parted  lips,  as  she  listened. 

Was  it  Margaret  Carriith  who  was  doing  this  ? 
A  girl  many  of  them  knew  and  often  greeted? 
That  voice,  disembodied  of  obstacle  or  difficulty, 
which  floated  with  a  heavenly  message  to  heights 
and  depths,  did  it  proceed  from  an  angel  who  had 
been  entertained  among;  them  unawares? 


\\  hen  the  Milder  ceased  the  hush  was  not  broken 
for  seconds.  At  !a-4  sonic  one  threw  oil'  the  spell. 
Applause  bewail,  rippled,  broke,  thundered. 

Mrs.  Carruth  and  Vandyke  held  themselves 
q;:iet  an  1  motionless,  while  French,  clearing  hi~ 
throat,  and  Alihea.  iieedless  of  tears  that  ran 
down  her  cheeks,  added  to  the  acclaim. 

I'rench  u'a/ed  across  at  Mrs.  (  arruth  and  \  an- 
dyke,  full  of  excitement,  ('aichin^'  the  iadv's  eye, 
he  leaned  across. 

••  \\lio  would  have  believed  it.  Mrs.  Carruth, 
eh  7  he  ejaculated,  continuing  1o  clap.  ••  The 
magnet  works,  eh?  '1  hen.  una.hle  to  contain 
his  exuberance  and  irritated  !>v  Vandvke's  pa^>iv- 
it\':  ••  'i  hat  is  n  t  mere  siuii'in^.  \and\ke.  eh  7 
\\ake  up.  man!  \\  hat  s  the  mailer  with  VMI. 
c-h  7  " 

'1  he  woman  in  the  next  !H>\  \\ho  had  commented 
disappro\-inu'ly  earlv  in  the  evening  was  'oiling  hei- 
lip  a.nd  ruining  her  gloves. 

Mrs.  Darling1  was  saving  very  u'entK  to  her 
hnshand  :  ••  ('an  \'ou  sec'  well  where;  you  are.  dear? 
\\  ould  n  t  it  lie  better  if  vou  moved  vour  chair 
tins  wa\'  fiirthei'  7 

\\  illard  French  was  still  deliriously  murmur- 
in:^  :  ••  Have  her  out.  have  her  out  !  and  applaud 
ing  madlv.  although  already  Margaret  had  three 
times  come  forward  and  bowed  her  acknowledg 
ments. 

'•  Be   quiet,    French.''    said     Vandyke    pensively. 


THE    CONCERT  183 

pulling-  Willard  down  into  his  chair.  "  She  won't 
sing-  an  encore  to  that.'' 

"•  How  are  you  so  well  informed?" 

u  1  don't  know,''  answered  Vandyke.  He  felt 
too  relaxed  to  argue.  But  he  was  right. 

'•  It   must  have  been  some    magnetic    condition 

O 

of  the  house,''  said  tin;  woman  in  the  next  box  to 
her  friend  when  she  could  be  heard.  She  was 
interested  in  psychological  research.  "  I  suppose 
such  a  concourse  of  friends,  all  moved  by  good 
feeling,  must  have  created  an  atmosphere,  an  ether, 
in  which  the  girl  sang  above  herself,  as  it  were. 
It  seemed  to  me  part  of  t;he  time  that  I  didn't 
breathe.  It  was  very  peculiar.  I  don't  suppose 
it  would  be  possible  for  her  to  do  it  again.  If  she 
were  clever,  she  'd  fall  ill  right  now  and  go  home." 

"•  Are  n't  you  going  behind  to  congratulate  her, 
Mrs.  Carruth  ?  "  asked  French. 

The  lady  merely  shook  her  head,  and  AVillard 
was  obliged  to  contain  himself,  although  it  seemed 
to  him  that  some  one  with  the  right  to  hug  Mar 
garet  should  seek  her  without  delay  and  perform 
that  office. 

The  English  baritone  took  his  turn,  the  other 
numbers  came  along  in  order,  until  Margaret 
appeared  for  the  second  time.  Then  the  spontane 
ous  greeting  broke  out  with  eager  enthusiasm. 

Vandyke  leaned  forward  in  his  chair  and  fas 
tened  his  eyes  upon  the  girl.  She  was  apparently 
looking  at  some  lofty  point  directly  before  her, 


184 

Imt  slowly  her  head  turned  and  she  glanced,  her 
expression  unchanged,  at  her  mother's  box.  and 
met  his  look.  For  a  second,  her  eyelids  fell  :  then, 
as  before,  \viih  the  effect  of  expressing  with,  ardent; 
sincerity  her  own  feehnu'.  J'oe's  pathetic  poem 
began  to  roll  with  sustained  fervor  from  her  lips. 

"  In  Heaven  a  spirit  doth  dwell 

V.  host-  heart -strings  are  ;i  Into  ; 
IS  one  sni'41  so  \\ildlv  well 
As  the  aiiLVel    Israfel. 
And  the  o-iddy  stars,  so  legends  tell. 
Ceasing  ilicir  hymns,  attend  the  spell 

Of  his  voice,  all  mute. 

"And  they  say.  the  starry  ehoir 

And  the  oilier  liMeuine,  things. 
That    Israfeli's  fin 
is  owiiiir  to  t  hat   lyre 
With  the  trenililinu  livini;-  wire 

iiv  whicli  he  sils  and  sin^s." 

Her  voice  rang  out  at  the  climax  with  an  appeal. 
The  sobs  that  rose  insistently  in  Mrs.  Carrnth's 
breast  threatened  to  overwhelm  her.  It  seemed 
as  if  all  that  she  had  known  the  girl  to  be  sup 
pressing,  now  broke  forth  in  passionate,  pathetic 
wistfulness. 

"  If  T  could  d^ell 
Where  Israu-1  hath  dwelt. 

And  he  when-  I. 
He  nii^lit  not  siiiL;1  so  wildly  \vell 

A  mortal  melody. 
While  a  holder  note  than  this  mig'ht  swell 

From  out  my  lyre  within  tin;  sky  ! 

Whatever  the  power  that  attached  to  the  young 


THE    CONCERT  185 

singer,  the  thrill  of  her  voice  ran  like  an  electric 
chain  about  her  audience.  The  applause  was  ex 
citing1  in  volume  and  eagerness. 

Mrs.  Carruth  bit  her  lip  painfully.  The  woman 
in  the  next  box  tried  to  conceal  that  she  was  cry 
ing  until  she  found  that  the  majority  of  her  friends 
were  too  occupied  to  heed  her. 

This  time  Margaret  was  not  to  be  excused ;  nor 
did  she  wish  to  be.  After  two  recalls  she  appeared 
with  her  accompanist ;  no  longer  with  the  exalted 
expression  in  her  face.  Only  a  happy  girl,  pleased 
under  splendid  approbation,  stood  before  the  foot 
lights  smiling  toward  her  mother's  box  while  the 
prelude  to  her  song  was  touched. 

She  gave  that  daintiest  of  love-songs,  "  At  Part 
ing,"  with  sweet  sincerity ;  warming  to  intensity 
and  dying  at  last  in  pensive  yearning  sadness, 
with  every  phrase  swaying  her  hearers  as  she 
would  :  — 

"  The  sweetest  flower  that  grows 

I  give  you  as  we  part, 
You  think  't  is  but  a  rose  ; 
Ah  me  !      It  is  my  heart !  " 

"  Long  live  Magnet  !  Long  live  Magnet !  " 
cried  French  into  the  volley  of  applause  that  went 
from  audience  to  stage  like  a  direct  message  of 
loving  thanks  and  praise. 

"Passable,  wasn't  it,  eh?"  he  said  to  Vandyke 
when  finally  they  rose  to  leave. 

The  latter's  eyes  were  glowing. 


••  I  should  like  yon  to  go  with  me  to  get  Mar 
garet."  said  Mrs.  (1arruth.  "If  we  hurrv  a  little. 
we  can  esc;i])e  people.  ^  on  will  excuse  n>.  A-i-s 
-i  s-\'  ill; 

u  I  doii  i  know.  \\  e  \vant  to  come  too.  said 
French. 

••  Not  to-night,  dear  bo\ .  It  has  been  so  excit 
ing.  Mrs.  Carruth  s  cloak  was  not  whiter  than 
her  cheeks. 

••  'i  i;ai  woman  is  i_>;oinLT  to  feel  the  reaction  from 
this,"  said  Willard  to  Altliea.  -  By  Jove,  she's 
a  worker  ! 

••Mow  now.  Miss  (Javlord?  \andyke  asked 
it  softly  a-  he  followed  Mr>.  Carruth, 

••  Oh.  there  's  nothing  left  of  inc.  and  I  only 
brought  one  handkerchief.  resjtonded  Altliea 
recklessly.  '•  Think  oi  our  expect  mg  her  to  "ing 
•  Israi'el  '  iii  that  seven  b\-  nine  box  of  mine!" 

Airs,  Carruth  and  \aiidvke  hastened  toward 
the  stage  door  by  a  corridor  at  the  bad-;  oi  the 
boxes,  the  lady  evading  sundry  attempts  to  detain 
and  congratulate  her. 

They  found  Margaret  surrounded  by  a  bevy  of 
musicians,  calm,  but  with  a  light  in  her  eves  and 
a  look  in  her  face  that  one  might  wear  who.  alter 
long  yearning,  breathes  her  native  air  at  last. 

"She  belongs  to  us.  Mrs.  Carruth,"  said  Kver- 
ett  Ramsay.  ••  London  has  a  place  for  your 
daughter." 

-•  You  don't  know   what   a   large   place   >he   fills 


THE    CONCERT  187 

here,"  replied  the  mother,  and  Margaret  noted  her 
pallor  even  while  she  gave  her  hand  to  Vandyke, 
disengaging1  herself  from  the  group  to  do  so. 

lie  pressed  it  in  silence. 

"•  You  see  ? "  she  said,  interrogating  him  with 
her  glance. 

kv  It  is  a  turning-point  in  your  life,"  he  an 
swered.  "  A  memorable  night.  I  shall  never 
forget  it." 

Her  heart  swelled.  The  homage  of  his  eyes 
intoxicated  her.  It  was  a  climax  to  all  that  had 
gone  before.  Impulsively  she  separated  a  rose 
bud  from  the  flowers  she  carried  and  gave  it  to 
him. 

v>  Your  sympathy  means  much  to  me,"  she  said. 

lie  took  the  flower  mechanically,  his  eyes  riveted 
on  her  radiant  ones.  In  that  moment  he  saw  her 
gain  and  his  loss.  lie  knew  for  the  first  time 
that  for  him  her  hand  held  the  gift  of  the  whole 
world  and  heaven  beyond,  while  of  all  the  treasure 
naught  could  come  to  him  but  this  one  warm  rose 
bud,  dropped  from  unattainable,  cloudy  heights. 

The  English  singer  observed  the  scene. 

"•  Perhaps  the  chief  obstacle  to  our  getting  Miss 
Carruth  stands  there,"  he  remarked  pleasantly  to 
Margaret's  mother.  "  '  You  think  't  is  but  a 

O 

rose  '    —  the  song  says." 

"  I  am  quite  sure  it  is  only  a  rose,  Mr.  Ram 
say,"  returned  Mrs.  Carruth.  "  Good-night." 

She  took  Margaret  away  as  quickly  as  she  could. 


1S8 

1  hev  scarcely  spoke  while  tlic  carriage  s\\  iftlv 
rolled  homeward  :  lint  arrived  at  the  lionse.  >hc 
led  the  girl  into  her  own  room  and  drew  her  down 
npoii  a  divan,  where  thev  held  each  other  in  a  lon^- 
silent  emltrace. 

••  Now  vou  are  going  right  to  bed.  little  mother." 
said  Margaret  at  last.  ••  \  on  are  verv  tired.  I 
hope  St.  Timothy's  has  11  t  cost  von  too  dear." 

••  I   hope  not.  Margaret.       I    hope  not.  '       As  she 
said    it,    Mrs.    Carrnth    regarded    the    girl    lixedlv. 
'•  Do    von    think    1    could    slee]>    until    we    have 
talked  it  out  ?  " 

'•  To-mornnv  will  do."  said  Margaret  lightlv. 
c'  I  "in  sleepy." 

••.Margaret  ('arrnth.  look  at  me.  Tell  me  the 
truth.  Are  vou  really  sleepy?  Shall  \oit  >leep 
to-ni^ht  ?" 

k>  Most  eertaiidy."  The  t^'ii'l  smiled.  ••  \Yliv 
not?'' 

"  After  all  the  excitement,  the  flattery  that 
ovation are  you  sleepv  ?  ineredulonslv. 

Margaret  looked  at  hei'  sti'iui^'dv.  ••  Mother, 
if  a  famished  man  is  fed.  can  lie  sleep'/  It  one 
who  has  pined  in  foreign  lands  reaches  home  at 
last,  can  lie  sleep?  If  the  mother  who  has  lost 
her  eliild  clasps  him  again  in  her  arms,  can  she 
sleep  ?  " 

u  Margaret  —  child  --  what  are  you  going  to 
do  ?  "  There  was  a  despairing  ring  in  the  voice. 

"  Nothing,  to-niu'ht." 


THE    CONCERT  189 

u  To-morrow,  what  ?  " 

u  We  will  talk  tilings  over,  perhaps." 

Mrs.  Carruth  shook  her  head  at  the  vague 
lightness. 

k*  Xow —  now  is  the  time,"  she  said  firmly. 

The  girl  waited  a  minute  and  a  new  seriousness 
grew  in  her  face.  "  It  is  true  then,"  she  said  at 
last,  "  to-night  has  convinced  you  of  my  vocation." 

"  Xo,  no,"  impetuously.  u  It  has  convinced  me 
that  you  have  a  power,  but  you  can  wield  it  with 
out —  without"  —her  voice  died  away. 

"  Mother,  listen.  To-night,  soon  after  my  first 
song,  a  woman  came  to  me,  —  a  woman  we  both 
know.  She  was  profoundly  agitated.  She  said 
that  song  had  changed  her  whole  life.  To-morrow 
she  had  intended  to  leave  her  homo  and  children, 
to  give  all  up  for  a  love  that  had  come  to  her  too 
late.  She  is  a  miserable  woman,  but  she  decided 
during  that  song  not  to  go,  not  to  seek  happiness 
in  this  world.  She  wanted  me  to  know,  so  she 
made  them  let  her  in,  found  me  alone,  and  told 
me.  Since  you  urge  me  to  speak  to-night,  I  ap 
peal  to  you  not  to  oppose  me  any  longer  !  "  The 
girl's  voice  thrilled  her  listener  ;  but  Mrs.  Carruth 
nerved  herself,  and  her  reply  was  ready. 

"  Yes,  you  have  a  great  power.  You  can  and 
will  use  it  for  good  wherever  you  are  ;  but,  Mar 
garet,  is  there  no  one  in  the  world  but  me  whom 
you  have  to  consider?  " 

The  girl  looked  surprised,  reflective,  and  a  slow 


l>hish    rose    to    her    hire.      "  No   one.      she    ->aid    at 
last. 

••  Tlien  there  inav  he.  Mr.  Vandyke  told  me 
to-ni^'lit  that  he  agreed  with  me:  that  he  did  not 
approve  ol  \our  taking  up  a  professional  life. 

Margaret  looked  up.  '•  Are  vou  sure.  -die 
asked.  ••  (piite  sure  yon  did  not  misunderstand 
him? 

••  ^  es.  Mrs.  ( 'arruth  paused,  and  in  the  hush 
decided  thai  she  must  tel!  all  the  truth.  •-  It  was 
before  vou  .^an^.  she  added  reltietuntlv. 

••Ah!      t  he  n'irl  v,'a\ e  a  nod, 

••  But.  my  child,  wait.  The  chances  for  domestic; 
happiness  are  so  small  tor  a  woman  situated  as 
vou  would  lie.  lie  does  n  t  reali/'1  it,  perhaps. 
Then  you  must  remember  it,  for  hi>  >ake." 

Margaret  s  lips  parted,  and  she  seemed  en 
tranced  for  an  instant:  then  she  threw  oil  the 
silent  spell.  ••  That  has  not  to  be  considered, 
she  said  breathlesslv.  "Let  us  ronline  theipies- 
tion  to  ourselves.  Tell  me.  do  vou  -till  thud';. 
with  such  indications  as  I  have  had  to-ni^'ht.  that 
niv  duty  is  to  obev  vou  blindly?" 

••()  Margaret,  don  t  speak  so.  dear!  The 
•i'irl  had  risen  in  her  agitation,  and  Mrs.  ('arruth's 
rich  \\rap  fell  and  trailed  on  the  floor  as  she 
turned  to  follow  her  with  troubled  eyes. 

"Hasn't  it  been  more  Jove  than  dutv  that  has 
coerced  vou,  Margaret?  Let  us  compromise," 
she  added,  as  the  i^irl  did  not  at  once  answer. 


THE    CONCERT  191 

u  Spring1  is  here.  Let  us  see  what  the  summer 
will  bring'  forth.  Supposing,  my  child,  that  your 
happiness  and  mine  is  coming  to  us  after  all, 
traveling'  along  the  same  path?  " 

She  rose  and  gave  the  girl  a  brilliant,  signifi 
cant  smile  that  the  latter  could  not  face.  To 
escape  it  Margaret  glided  to  her  side  and  buried 
her  face  in  her  mother's  neck. 

Mrs.  Carruth's  eyes  grew  triumphant  as  sho 
stood  patting  the  white  shoulder  and  looking- 
through  the  dissolving  walls  of  the  chamber  into 
a  bright  futurity. 


CHAPTER   XIII 


A  LONG  "business  trip  claimed  Burton  Vandyke 
immediately  after  the  concert  for  St.  Timothy's, 
so  lie  did  not  hear  the  buz/  of  the  nine  davs' 
wonder  over  Margarets  success,  although  he  could 
picture  it. 

tk  The  child  takes  it  with  wonderful  self-poise." 
"Mi's.  Carruth  wrote  to  Miss  Beebe.  "She  is 
(juite  gentle  and  composed  when  people  swoop 
upon  her  with  flattery.  It  appears  to  be  as  un 
exciting  to  her  as  if  they  said.  -Why.  Margaret 
Carruth,  your  eyes  are  gray!"  She  seems  to  be 
answering  them  :  •  \  es,  did  n  t  vou  know  before 
that  they  were,  gray  ?  ' 

b-  Mr.  Vandyke  is  not  offering  incense  with  the 
rest  because  he  has  been  called  away  from  town. 
lie  is  likely  to  be  gone  some  time:  but  I  believe 
the  prospect  is  good  for  the  outcome  of  which  I 
spoke  to  vou.  —  that  is.  so  far  as  he  is  concerned. 
His  excitement  on  the  evening  of  the  concert 
could  mean  only  one  thing,  and  he  wa>  the  trump 
card  which  I  plaved  in  the  inevitably  painful  in 
terview  dear  Margaret  and  I  had  afterward.  Of 
course.  I  could  deal  only  in  hints,  but  they  seemed 


VACATION  193 

to  have  an  effect.  Mr.  Vandyke  and  Margaret 
are  Loth  the  sort  of  young  people  who  would  ap- 
proaeh  such  a  step  with  earo  and  thought.  What 
a  turning-point  the  coming  summer  will  be  in  our 
lives  !  What  hopes  I  am  hanging  upon  it  !  We 
shall  go  to  the  cottage  as  early  as  possible  this 
season.  Margaret  is  anxious  about  me ;  and  in 
deed  the  winter  has  been  more  of  a  strain  than  she 
knows.  It  is  a  dolefully  white  face  I  see  when  I 
look  in  the  glass ;  but  our  hero,  our  Sir  Launcelot, 
will  espouse  my  cause  and  deliver  me  !  I  don't 
dread  to  tell  him  that  which  you  know  of.  1  le  is 
so  broad  in  his  views,  so  strong  and  gentle,  he  will 
guard  Margaret  as  I  should.  Oh,  Luella,  what 
happy  days  may  be  coming  to  me  !  My  spirit 
sings  when  I  think  of  the  relief  and  peace  that  is 
perhaps  in  store. 

k-  We  shall  count  on  a  visit  from  you,  any  part 
of  the  season  which  suits  yon.  There  is  always 
plenty  of  room  at  Cliff  Nest." 

The  CaiTuths  went  in  June  to  the  eyrie  among 
the  rocks  where  the  sea  beat  far  below  on  a  pebbly 
beach.  Groves  of  fragrant  firs  embowered  the 
cottage  at  the  back,  rooting  in  a  boulder-strewn 
soil  and  sending  forth  their  wholesome  breath  on 
every  breeze. 

The  people  who  are  always  ready  to  invest  the 
money  of  rich  folk  for  them  disapproved  somewhat 
of  Cliff  Nest.  It  was  too  remote  from  pleasant 
society  for  Margaret,  they  said.  Of  course  Mrs. 


MM 

Carruth,  iif'tcr  her  laborious  winter,  enjoyed  tin- 
reaction  of  absolute  quiet  :  hut  tor  her  daughters 
sake  she  ou^'lit  to  have  limit  a  place  ne;nvr  (»>  th'- 
fashionable  resort  ten  miles  away.  Mrs.  I)arlin_; 
agreed  with  these  philanthropic  -onU.  She  liked 
to  keep  one  hand  on  the  (  arruths  even  \\hil.-  she 
cMU'a^ed  in  ilie  pursuit  of  congenial  pleasures. 
Their  relationship,  tht-ir  countenance,  meant  a 
<jTeat  deal  to  her.  It  liored  her  to  have  to  lake  a 
lone;  drive  whenever  she  \\ished  to  survev  their 
niovemeiits  and  know  \\hat  persons  composed  their 
occasional  house-part  les.  Sometimes  she  uished 
she  did  not  own  a  cottage  of  her  own.  !i,  that 
case  sin;  would  I'e  >iire  o!  invitations  tor  loii^1 
stay-,  at  Cliff  Nest,  and  the  rest  of  the  time  -he 
could  hoard  at  the  jfreat  hotel  in  the  heart  ot  tin 
rex »rt  above  men t  ioned. 

Mrs.  ('arruths  treatment  ot  her  ua>  ahvavs 
courteous  without  familiarity,  and  the  preti\ 
woman  resented  a  politeness  which  ne\'er  warmed 
to  forget  fulness  of  the  conventions:  hut  M  r^.  Car- 
ruth  was  o'cnerosity  and  hospitality  incarnate. 
Mrs.  Darling  knew  that  hor>e>  and  carriages, 
boats  and  bath-liouses  would  be  at  her  disposal  as 
lonu1  as  she  mi^ht  be  Cliff  Nest's  ^uest. 

However,  tins  season  she  was  uiad  ot  her  eot- 
tau'e.  i;'lad.  too.  of  the  niih-s  th;;t  di\ided  il  from 
the  Carruths.  She  laid  elaboi'ate  plans  to  meet 
Burton  Vandyke  on  his  return  from  the  \\est 
bei'ore  he  had  been  to  Beacon  Street  :  and  when 


VACATION  195 

she  finally  saw  him  seated  in  her  little  drawing- 
room,  and  made  certain  that  this  was  the  first  call 
he  had  made  since  his  return,  she  smiled  with  the 
triumphant  certainty  that  her  point  was  gained. 

"•  Yonr  trip  has  been  a  hard  one,  Mr.  Vandyke," 
she  said  with  a  wise  nod. 

"•  I  "m  sorry  I  show  it,"  he  replied ;  "  but  it  has 
been  a  fight  from  beginning  to  end.'' 

••  I  dare  say  when  my  note  was  handed  yon,  you 
sighed  to  yourself  that  you  wished  no  one  would 
hurry  you  into  any  social  duties,  even  into  such  a 
tiny  and  informal  one  as  a  call  on  me." 

bt  Xo,  indeed.  It  seems  a  long  time  since  I  have 
seen  my  Boston  friends."  Vandyke  looked  up. 
'•  I  left  town  at  a  very  exciting  moment  to  Miss 
Carruth." 

"  So  you  did ;  and  it  shows  how  long  you  have 
been  gone,  that  to-day  there;  is  almost  a  feeling  of 
summer  in  the  air." 

The  visitor  was  not  to  be  lured  away  from  his 
subject.  ••  HONV  is  Miss  Carruth?  Did  she  suffer 
from  the  reaction  from  all  that  excitement  ?  " 

••  She  is  quite  well.  1  hear  she  is  going  into 
singing  as  a  profession.  I  hear  that  Everett  Ram 
say  encourages  her  to  come  to  London.  She  told 
me  once  a  good  while  ago  that  she  thought  the  life 
of  a  singer  very  enviable.  I  charged  her  with  this 
a  few  days  ago  and  she  evaded  me.  She  evidently 
isn't  ready  to  talk,  but  I  prophesy  that  is  just 
what  she  will  do.  Her  success  certainly  gives  her 


every  rea>on.  So  -  Mrs.  Darling'  made  ;in  ;iii'\' 
gvstnre  ••  vanish  Mi-s  Carrnth  from  Boston 
society. 

Her  companion  s  eves  \vere  looking  far  a\vav. 

••  At  all  events,  ju^t  iio\v  slie  is  not  x>  nnicli  in 
need  ol  attention  as  \'on  are.  >he  added.  ••  \  «\\ 
do  look  almost  hazard.  As  \oiir  care-takei-  1 
must  insist  mi  knowing  what  \'(m  are  [ilanniiiu  tor 
a  vacation. 

••I'm  afraid  I  mustn't  think"  much  ahout  that. 
Mrs.  Darling" 

••  Indeed  von  must  !  "  in  indignant  protest.  ••()!' 
course  vou  are  ^oinu1  to  have  a  vacation." 

••  Perhaps         very  likelv.  two  weeks." 

••  A   l)e<^arlv  t  \v«  week>  ' 

*•  A  princely  two  weeks  I  shall  call  it.  if  I 
ji-et  it." 

••  \  erv  well.  \ve  will  a.-^ume  that  \on  will  ^et  it. 
The  principal  tiling  tor  which  I  sent  tor  \on  is  to 
ask  vou  to  spend  those  weeks  with  us. 

-•  \\  hv.  Mrs.  Darling.  1  tlianlc  \ou 

••()h.  liut  there  can  t  lie  aiiv  •  huts.  lu'ineni- 
bcr.  1  am  one  oi  vour  oldest  friends  in  Boston. 

••And  kindest.  added  Vandyke.  ••  I  have 
friends,  though,  who  ante-date  Boston,  v,  ho  \\onld 
(•xpect  me  to  come  to  them  it  circumstances  iavor. 

"•  But  they  may  not  '/  That  is  ^ood.'  returned 
Mrs.  Darlin-  -a\  ly.  ••  Well,  all  I  ilsk  is  that  Mich 
time  as  vou  spend  with  Boston  Friends  von  u'ive 
to  us."  She  assumed  a  serious  air.  ••  This  mav 


\'ACATWN  197 

seem  insistent  to  you,  Mr.  Vandyke,  but  it  is  in 
behalf  of  my  husband  that  I  urge  it.  Henry's 
vacation  will  do  him  so  much  more  good  if  he  has 
you  with  him.  1  'm  sure  the  hammocks  and 
breezes  and  sails  at  Spindrift  will  rest  you  won 
derfully.  You  must  come  and  try  them.  Henry 
ridicules  me,  and  says  there  is  no  siich  word  as 
Spindrift ;  but  who  in  her  senses  would  call  a 
cottage  by  such  an  uglv  name  as  Spoondrift?  ]Sot 
I,  at  any  rate.  The  house  is  too  pretty  to  be 
treated  so.  Come  and  see  if  it  is  n't.'1 

"•  I  surely  will,  Mrs.  Darling,  if  it  is  a  possible 
thing,"  returned  Vandyke.  "  Mr.  Darling  and  I 
will  have  to  find  out  if  we  can  agree  upon  dates." 

'•  And  the  trouble  is  he  meant  it,"  laughed  his 
hostess  to  herself  after  he  had  gone.  However 
much  Vandyke's  literalness  might  appeal  to  her 
sense  of  humor  as  well  as  pique  her  vanity,  she 
was  elated  at  her  success.  Cliff  Xest  could  not 
receive  him  now.  lie  had  given  his  word. 

Margaret  had  in  the  winter  often  shown  Althea 
Gaylord  pictures  of  their  seashore  home,  and  ex 
pressed  the  hope  that  she  would  not  return  AVest 
without  visiting  them  there.  A  hint  was  enough 
for  Althea,  who  wrote  at  once  to  her  parents  for 
permission  to  extend  her  stay  in  order  to  view  the 
beauties  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  although  she  avowed 
honestly  that  she  would  be  willing  to  be  enveloped 
in  a  fog  all  summer  if  within  the  wet  blanket  she 
could  be  side  by  side  with  Margaret  Carruth. 


Mi1,  ami  Mrs.  (Javlovd  pivc  their  consent-.  so 
that  tli;-  plea-urc  of  anticipation  cheered  Altlica 
all  through  ihc  (lavs  of  late  spring,  when  her  face 
looked  pale  and  small  as  -he  kept  iirndv  at  her 
work  under  a  sun-lieaten  roof. 

••"ion  are  as  hiy-cyed  as  a  rooin.  \\  illard 
French  said  to  her.  ••  It.  is  time  von  sent  vour 
]>iano  a\\  av. 

••  Never  sav  die.     returned   Miss  (Javloi'd. 

"Actions  .-peak  louder  than  \\ords.  reniai'kcd 
French.  tv  Better  say  it  than  do  it.  it  seems  tonic. 

••  I)oii  t  \on  ordei-  your  mourning  vet.  !)<•  von 
think"  I  d  shuffle  oil  before  I  ve  lieen  to  (  iilf 
Nest  '/  Think  of  ^'oinn1  to  lied  and  u'''Uii)^  up  and 
eat iuu'  three  meals  a  dav  in  the  same  house  \\ith 
Mi-,  Ma-net  !  " 

••That's  the  thin-."  said  French  ap])rovin-ly. 
••Such  meals  as  von  \\ill  eat  at  C'lfff  Ne>t.  too! 
I  've  tried  them. 

'•Are  von  -oin-  down  this  sninmer  7  asked  the 
-irl.  The  (jue>tioii  had  risen  to  her  lips  on  manv 
previous  occasions,  hut  for  some  reason  it  had  no! 
been  eas\  to  put. 

••  I  shall  spend  mv  vacation  at  Crest  \  ie\\.  yes. 

-•  \\  hose  house  is  I  hat  '! 

"  It  is  n't  a  house  :  it  is  a  village,  the  resort 
neaiv-t  to  ('lift'  Nest.  Mrs.  Darlinu",  cottage  is 
only  a  litt  le  way  out  from  it." 

••  Is  that  \\liy  you  choose  it'/'  asked  Allhea 
impulsively. 


VACATION  199 

"  One  reason,  yes." 

The  girl  pursed  her  lips  reflectively. 

"  I  saw  Mrs.  Darling  yesterday.  She  told  me 
that  Mr.  Vandyke  has  come  back,  and  that  he  is 
going  to  spend  his  vacation  with  her,"  she  said 
slowly. 

"  lie  '11  have  a  picnic,"1  commented  French 
placidly.  "  Spindrift  is  a  gay  place." 

"•  She  always  gets  her  way,  that  woman,"  re 
marked  Althea;  u  that  is,  nearly  always.  If  she 
does  n't  —  zip  !  Look  out  for  hysterics  and  a  gen 
eral  letting  go  of  everything.  I  pity  the  person 
who  incurs  her  wrath  then  !  As  a  rule,  though, 
she  gets  her  way." 

"  Of  course.  Pretty  women  ought  to,"  returned 
French  provokingly. 

"  Thank  you."  Miss  Gaylord  swept  him  a 
curtsy.  "  I  'in  glad  you  admire  big-eyed  robins.  I 
have  my  way  exactly.  If  you  men  prefer  to  swing 
on  Mrs.  Darling's  gate  to  coming  to  Cliff  Nest,  I 
shall  have  Miss  Magnet  all  the  more  to  myself. 
1  wish  you  a  very  happy  summer,  Mr.  French. 
I  know  just  your  style  :  hopping  at  a  fashionable 
hotel,  and  playing  Bunthorne  to  twenty  love-sick 
maidens  with  fifty  summer  toilets  apiece.  Go  on. 
Do  it,  by  all  means." 

"Thank  you,  Miss  Gaylord,"  returned  French 
feelingly.  "  I  could  n't  have  gone  into  it  with  any 
zest,  wanting  your  permission.  As  it  is,  my  heart 
will  be  as  light  as  my  heels." 


"And  vonr  head,  added  Althea  <|uicklv.  as  .-In- 
lei  t  the  room. 

\\  illard  -iniled  pensivelv  at  the  door,  which 
wa>  (|in verm",1  \\iih  the  energy  expended  bv  Mi-s 
( ia\  lord  upon  closing  it . 

••  It  -eein-.  he  mused,  "that  the  mention  of 
Mrs.  Darling  uct-  on  to  my  ward's  nerves." 

Meanwhile  \andvke  called  at  the  Carrnths'. 
Margaret  was  out  :  but  Mr.-,  ('arruth  greeted  him 
with  hearty  cordiality  and  commented,  as  M  r>. 
Darling1  had  done,  on  the  evidences  of  fatigue  that 
he  bore. 

l>\  a  natural  transition  >he  loo  came  at  the  -ub- 
ject  of  In.-  vacation,  and  he  replied,  a  he  'had  to 
in-  other  hostess,  that  it  was  problematical. 

••luil  that  wont  do.  said  Mrs.  ('arruth  kindly. 
••  Brainworkers  must  .-top  and  rene\\  themselves." 

••  I  hope  tor  a  chance,  he  answered.  ••  ^  on 
certainly  need  a  change  yourself.  Mrs.  ('arruth." 

She  smiled.  "  It  is  n't  the  pot  calling  the  ket 
tle  black  exactly,  is  it  7  We're  both  too  white 
for  that.  Yes.  I  need  it.  and  Cliff  \e>t  will  vjve 
it  me.  I  wi.-h  we  mivjit  see  yon  at  our  summer 
home.  Mr.  \and\ke.  A  fortnight  there  would 
make  von  teel  re-created. 

lie  looked  at  her.  a  certain  ^low  oi  response  in 
his  eyes  that  she  had  come  to  know  well.  ••  I 
can  think  ot  nothing  in  the  world  that  would  Li'ive 
me  so  much  pleasure."  he  answered  \\ith  a  sin 
cerity  that  elated  her. 


VACATION  201 

"  Then  you  will  conic  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  shall  have  any  vacation," 
he  answered,  his  face  impassive  again,  "but  if  I 
do  I  shall  have  to  —  I  shall  spend  part  of  it  with 
my  people.  For  the  rest,  I  have  already  pro 
mised  Mrs.  Darling." 

t%  AY  lien  did  yon  promise  Mrs.  Darling?  You 
only  arrived  yesterday."  Mrs.  Carruth  spoke 
quickly,  off  her  guard  for  once1.  YVas  this  man 
not  as  good  as  a  son,  better  than  a  son,  to  her? 

"  She  sent  for  me  to  come  to  see  her,"  he  re 
plied,  "  and  the  conversation  turning  on  the  sum 
mer,  she  happened  to  ask  me." 

"Happened  to  ask  him!''  thought  Mrs.  Car 
ruth  hotly.  "  She  has  probably  been  having  the 
railway  stations  watched  !  " 

But  her  manner  as  she  answered  him  was  as 
calm  as  ever.  "  Spindrift  is  a  pleasant  house, 
and  not  so  far  from  us.  Y\  e  shall  hope  to  see 
something  of  you." 

*•  Mrs.  Darling  told  me  great  news  of  — of  your 
daughter.  I  don't  know  that  you  care  to  speak 
of  it,  but  is  she  to  —  you  have  yielded  to  her 
wish  ? "  He  asked  it  modestly  and  with  hesita 
tion,  ready  to  abandon  the  subject  at  a  hint. 

Mrs.  Carruth  smiled  at  him.  "  That  matter  is 
suspended  for  the  summer,  Mr.  Vandyke.  I  am 
glad  you  spoke  of  it,  for  if  I  can  secure  you  for 
an  ally  in  the  matter  I  shall  be  very  glad.  I  want 
you  to  understand  my  position." 


She  did  indeed:  ;iud  her  executive  ;il>dil\  \v;is 
so  :_' rea  i .  her  power  to  briiit^1  aliont  each  tiling  tli.it 
she  i-oiisidered  desirable  h;id  lieen  so  Ion";  niKjties- 
tioir.'d.  sli.'  h;i'!  i:o\v  to  sti'Ul^'le  with  the  tempta- 
t  ion  !ii!--  i  ete-a-1  etc  \\  as  to  her. 

She    longed     to     s;|\    :    "    1    appl'o\e    of     VO1I.         \Oill' 

financial  circumstances,  whatever  ihe\  mav  lie. 
are  a  mailer  oi  indii't'ereliee  lo  me.  i  Relieve  \<m 
ean  \\'in  niv  daughter.  It  udl  please  me  to  ha\e 
von  try. 

lint  instead,  -he  eontinned  without  excitement: 
••  Margaret  is  the  li^ht  of  n:\  iii'e.  It'  she  adopts. 
the  pi'ofessiol)  slie  thinks  >he  wishes.  !  iiiu>t  eitlier 
live  on  her.1  alone,  or  I  niii^t  l;real<  np  this  home 
and  relinquish  the  wovl<  \vl  ich  I  do  ii  re.  and  u'o 
a'oout  \\ilh  her.  If  I  lieiieved  tiiat  \\on!d  In'in^ 
her  the  Li'reate--)  happiness,  it  would  lie  mv  dulv  to 
aii'ree  to  one  ol  tho>e  pri )|)o-<;;  i, in^  :  inn  I  dn  init. 
The  onl\  real,  solid,  safe  ha])piness  in  this  world 
for  a  woman  is  to  l>e  a  \\ife  and  mother.  ( )t 
course  it  fads  at  times.  Init  more  otten  n  succeeds. 
That  is  the  life  I  conld  v,i\e  Margaret  np  to.  I  ell 
me.  Mr.  Vandyke,  do  von  au'ree  with  me? 

II(>  was  silent,  his  v,a/e  fixed  on  the  tloor. 
\\onld  he  speak  to  her  now?  Would  he  a-.k  her? 
\\  as  he  tr\ni(4'  to  summon  courage?  All.  ho\v 
conld  she  ^ive  it  to  him  and  vet  make  no  mis 
take! 

••I  was  surprised,  she  went  on,  after  an  in 
stant  s  pause.  "  to  lind  that  .Margaret  had  talked  to 


VACATION  203 

you  on  this  subject.  It  was  a  great  mark  of  con 
fidence.  She  is  one  of  the  most  reserved  girls 
imaginable.  It  is  this  that  makes  me  know  that 
you  can  influence  her  ;  that  makes  me  wish  for 
your  assurance  that  at  least  you  understand  my 
position  and  believe  me  sincere." 

"  I  do  believe  that,"  said  Vandyke,  rising.  lie 
was  an  imposing  man  standing  thus,  his  pale  face, 
dignified  to  coldness,  regarding  his  hostess  with 
out  a  smile.  Something  in  his  look  disconcerted 
her.  It  did  not  accord  with  a  humility  which 
needed  encouragement.  *"•  I  trust  the  summer  may 
solve  your  problem,  Mrs.  Carruth,"  he  added, 
'"  and  I  hope  it  will  be  very  enjoyable  and  bene 
ficial  to  you  both.  Please  present  my  regrets  to 
your  daughter  that  I  have  missed  her.  If  I  suc 
ceed  in  getting  to  the  seashore,  I  shall  remember 
your  permission  to  call." 

In  another  minute  he  was  gone,  and  his  hostess, 
dismayed,  was  questioning  space  with  wondering 
eyes.  Offense  followed  her  first  surprise  at  his 
abruptness.  "  Yet  how  haggard  he  looked  as  he 
stood  there !  Perhaps  he  felt  suddenly  ill.  It 
must  have  been  so." 

She  recalled  each  word  of  their  brief  conversa 
tion  uneasily,  as  if  laying  it  before  Margaret's 
maiden  vision.  She  longed  to  have  him  come 
again  and  find  the  girl  at  home,  for  of  course  he 
would  come  in  the  fortnight  that  must  intervene 
before  their  flitting.  His  parting  words  had 


sounded  ahsurdly  like  a  farewell  :  luit  they  could 
not  have  meant  that. 

Had  she  asked  him  to  c:mie  a^'ain  ?  She  midd 
not  recall.  >he  ha.l  been  too  excited,  too  embar- 
ra-sed  to  know.  Had  anything  offended  him? 
\\  liat  c:mid  have  caused  his  strange,  unsvnipa- 
t  het  ic  behavior  ? 

\\hen  Mrs.  Carruth.  carefully  concealing  any 
agitation,  announced  to  Margaret  that  \  and\'ke 
had  calli'd,  the  Lj'irl  expressed  only  conventional 
regret  at  missing  him  :  luit  she  looked  for  him 
every  evening  for  a  week  thereafter  in  vain. 

At  the  end  of  that  tune  a  telegram  arrived 
announcing  the  death  of  old  Mr.  Beebe.  and  the 
Carruths  \vent  to  Sprinplale  to  the  funeral,  taking 
Althea  with  them. 

I  ]»on  tl'.eir  return  Mrs.  Carruth  eag'erlv  ex 
amined  the  cards  that  had  been  left,  to  discover 
if  \  andvke's  was  amon^'  them.  It.  was  not. 

At  last  the  evening  before  their  departure  ar 
rived.  Mrs.  ('arm! h  had  been  lonuin^.  yet  fear- 
in  ^  to  speak  of  \  andvke  to  her  daughter,  and 
now  she  could  hold  her  peace  no  longer. 

••  I  be^'iii  to  fear  that  Mi'.  Vandyke  i^  ill."  she 
said.  '•  He  looked  so  badly  the  evening  he 
called." 

l-  Had  news  travels  fast."  replied  Margaret. 
"  Willard  would  know.  I  think.  \\  hen  he  was 
here  last  ni^ht  he  mentioned  Mr.  \  andvke  casu- 
ally." 


V AC 'ATI ON  205 

Mrs.  Carruth  regarded  the  speaker  with  a  mix 
ture  of  relief  and  disappointment.  Margaret 
seemed  entirely  undisturbed. 

u  Well  —  what  do  you  think  of  his  behavior 
then  ?  ''  she  asked. 

"  We  have  no  reason  to  think  anything  of  it," 
was  the  reply.  "  I  have  hoped "  —  she  added 
after  a  minute,  "  I  have  wondered  if  you  said  any 
thing  the  evening  he  was  here  that  —  that  " 

"  That  what,  Margaret  ?  " 

The  girl  eame  close  to  her  mother  and  put  her 
arms  around  her  tenderly. 

"That  you  regret  now,"  she  said  slowly.  "  You 
know,  little  mother,  your  rule,  '  Where  there  's  a 
will  there  's  a  way,'  might  tempt  you  now." 

"  Xo  indeed,  indeed,  Margaret."  Mrs.  Car 
ruth  colored  painfully.  "  I  was  tempted.  Of 
course  I  was,  but  —  I  remembered  you  !  " 

u  That  is  good,  mother,"  said  the  girl  quietly. 


CIIAITKK    XIV 

(   UI-T     NKsT 

THIN  and  pale  Mi>s  (iavlord  might  he.  hut 
there  was  no  Li'irl  in  [Boston  fuller  of  anticipation 
than  she  when  on  the  following  morning  she  drove 
\\ith  the  Carrnths  to  the  railwav  station.  I  pon 
their  arrival  \\  illard  French  appeared  to  open  the 
carriage-door,  and  Althea  was  pale  no  longer  in 
her  Mirpnse  at  the  apparition.  She  had  hade  him 
good-hv  already,  and  not  the  least  ot  her  anticipa 
tions  of  Cliff  Nest  was  that  >he  \\ould  learn  there 
not  to  listen  for  his  step,  nor  when  she  walked 
ahroad  to  Avatch  for  the  particular  st\le  of  hat 
\vhich  Mr.  French  affected. 

Now  here  lie  was  again  and  the  parting  must 
he  repeated. 

••  This  day  is  going  to  he  a  scorcher,  he  re 
marked.  "  Yon  go  at  precisely  the  right  mo 
ment." 

He  took  possession  of  their  hags  and  escorted 
the  three  ladies  to  their  train  and  saw  them  estah- 
lishcd  in  their  chairs. 

••Take  me  with  you.  Mrs.  Carrnth."  he  sug 
gested,  as  he  stood  in  the  aisle,  tanninn'  himself 


CLIFF    XE*T  207 

with  his  hat.  "  Somehow  I  don't  yearn  to  go 
back  to  the  office." 

'•  I  'in  sure  you  're  never  any  trouble,  my  dear 
boy,"  remarked  Mrs.  Carruth.  "  You  are  very 
welcome  to  come.  Remember,  we  speak  for  at 
least  a  part  of  your  vacation." 

u  lie  sure  I  shan't  forget  any  such  pleasure.  I 
have  some  magazines  and  things  here."  lie 
handed  some  periodicals  and  a  box  of  candy  to 
Margaret,  and  then  from  inside  his  coat  brought 
forth  a  little  package  loosely  wrapped  in  tissue 
paper. 

"•  These  are  for  my  ward,"  he  said  gravely. 
"I  'in  afraid  1  've  jammed  them  now." 

They  were  violets  like  those  that  had  once  made 
peace  between  French  and  herself,  and  Althea 
looked  her  pleasure  as  she  took  them. 

"  I  think  you  will  find  that  Miss  (niylord  does 
me  credit,  Mrs.  Carruth,"  he  went  on.  "  If  you 
tire  of  her,  just  return  her  to  Newbury  Street. 
There  is  going  to  be  an  aching  void  where  the 
piano  has  stood  all  winter." 

"•  That  is  it,"  thought  Althea,  burying  her  nose 
in  the  violets.  "  I  have  never  been  anything'  more 
to  him  than  a  good  joke." 

'•  Never  mind  these  empty  flatteries,  Mr. 
French,"  she  remarked  in  her  airiest  drawl. 
"  Your  heavy  responsibility  is  shifted,  and  now 
there  is  nothing  to  worry  you  but  my  teacups. 
Don't  you  let  anything  happen  to  them,  and  don't 


you  let  anybody  drink  out  of  them,  unless  it  is 
Air.  \  andvke.  IJenieinber.  now  ! 

-Oh.  I    saw  Vandyke  last  night."  said  \Villard. 

turning1  to  Margaret.  ••  lie  did  n't  know  till  th-n 
that  von  were  going  so  soon.  It  "s  about  a  min 
ute  now.  so  good-by,  all  of  yon.  '  French  shook 
liands  with  Mrs.  ('arrnth.  with  Margaret,  then 
with  Althea. 

••  ( Jood-by.  little  l)nsv  liee.     he  said  smiling. 

••  (  iood-hy.  hi";  Imtteril  v." 

He  pressed  her  hand  and  returned  her  look-  so 
keenly  that  she  could  almost  believe  lie  \\as  .>orr\ 
to  see  her  go. 

••  Don  t  work  loo  hard.  she  added  in  a  differ 
ent  tone. 

••  \\  hat  advice  to  a  butterfly  !  he  laughed,  and 
Avith  a  parting  nod  passed  down  the  ai>le  and  dis- 
a])peared. 

As  French  lett  the  ear  by  one  door,  a  tall  man 
in  a  gray  summer  suit  entered  it  at  the  opposite 
end.  The  thin  material  of  his  clothing  cluni;1 
lightly  to  the  muscles  of  his  splendid  figure,  and 
many  eyes  turned  toward  Imu  as  the  tram  started. 
His  roving1  glance  almost  instantly  caught  siglil  of 
our  grou]).  and  lifting  his  hat  lie  strode  forward. 

••  I>ut  we  "ye  started  !  "  exclaimed  Margaret. 
rising  involuntarily.  lie  ignored  Mrs.  Carruth 
and  Althea  as  he  laid  a  florist  s  lio\  in  her  hands. 

••  I  ve  been  out  ot  town  again,  he  explained, 
with  no  briii'liteiiinii'  of  his  sombre  face. 


CL //•'/•'   XKST  209 

u  Please  get  off  !  "  she  ejaculated.  She  had  not 
seen  him  since  that  evening  in  the  green-room. 
What  had  happened  to  change  him  so  ! 

"  It  has  been  impossible  for  me  " 

"  Yes,  yes  !      Please  get  oft'  !  " 

Her  hand  was  in  his. 

"  (io,   jtlcdxc  !  "    she    repeated.       **  Good-by  — 
no,  an  revoir  !  " 

With  another  vague  lifting  of  his  hat  and  a 
look  at  no  face  but  hers,  lie  disappeared. 

'•  Oh,  we  're  going  so  fast  !  ''  exclaimed  Marga 
ret  apprehensively,  turning  to  Althea,  who  looked 
big-eyed  and  sympathetic  for  an  instant  as  both 
girls  craned  their  necks  at  the  window. 

%-  I  did  n't  see  any  great,  elegant,  gray  person 
prostrate,  did  yon?"  asked  Althea  at  last,  doubt 
fully. 

'•  Xo,"  agreed  Margaret,  her  arrested  breath 
coming  again. 

Then  Miss  Gaylord  after  an  instant  gave  way 
to  an  irrepressible  burst  of  laughter,  her  eyes 
growing  moist  in  the  effort  to  refrain,  for  she 
was  n't  at  all  sure  that  Miss  Carruth  would  like 
her  hilarity.  Margaret  looked  interrogative. 

"  I  never  saw  such  a  funny  interview  in  my 
life,"  said  Althea,  turning  half  apologetically  to 
Mrs.  Carruth,  who  was  sitting  up  straight  in  her 
chair,  her  eyes  thoughtful.  "  All  Miss  Margaret 
said  was,  '  Get  off ;  do  get  off  ;  please  go  ; '  and 
he  giving  her  flowers  and  making  eyes  at  her,  and 


—  and  —  everything  !"  She  yielded  to  renewed 
merriment .  \vith  more  courage,  for  her  compan 
ions  smiled  loo.  Margaret  blushing  and  wi'diin^1 
her  mother  would  not  watch  her  so. 

Perhaps  Mrs.  ('arruth  felt  tlii^.  for  sin-  loaned 
hack  in  her  chair  a^'ain  and  swmiL!,1  halt  around 
toward  the  window  away  from  the  happv  u'irU. 
Neither  of  them  ever  forgot  that  ride  down  to 
Cliff  Nest.  Kaeh  felt  that  a  chapter  in  her  life 
had  been  closed  with  —  ]iist  at  the  end  tun  \- 
pected  satisfaction.  The  pauv  headed.  "To  he 
continued.  neither  or  them  looked  at.  hut  each 
read  over  her  chapter  a^am  and  a^am  with  flights 
of  liapj)y  thoughts  concealed,  \\hosc  inlluenc,'  lie- 
traved  iNelt  o,il\  til  i  he  ^'enialitv  of  their  inter- 
course, 

Margaret  opened  licr  liox  of  American  Uejiuties 
and  asked  Althca  to  pass  ()nr  to  her  mother. 
Mrs.  ('arruth  received  it.  and  touching  ii  to  her 
lips,  waved  it  toward  the  ^m-r  without  lifting  her 
head  from  its  sleepy  ]>ose  against  the  hack  ot  the 
chair:  lint  sir*  was  not  s!e,'p\' :  slic  was  never 
wider  awake.  Ne\'er  had  she  been  ^l.idder  to  lie 
ignored  than  a  few  minutes  au'o  l»v  \  andvke.  ill-- 

O  ~  «  » 

eau'cr.  distriui^'ht  air  had  not  been  lost   upon  her. 

'•Foolish  fellow!  '  she  thought.  '•'lie  is  won 
dering  if  he  dare  aspire.  Never  mind.  lie  \\ill 
value  his  happiness  the  more  when  it  conies. 

Then  she  looked  the  rose  full  in  its  hln.hin^ 
face  and  <>'ave  it  a  little  smile  of  confidence. 


CLIFF   KF.ST  211 

The  car-wheels  sang  for  her  all  the  way  a  song 
to  which  Margaret  would  turn  a  deaf  ear. 

''  The  sweetest  flower  that  grows 
I  give  you  as  we  part. 
To  you  '  t  is  but  a  rose, 
Ah  me  !     It  is  my  heart  ! 

"•  I  suppose  you  would  scorn  a  rose,  Althea," 
said  Margaret,  looking  at  the  girl's  empurpled 
shirt-waist. 

••  I  am  satisfied,"  was  the  smiling  reply. 

For  a  while  they  looked  from  the  windows  in 
silence  at  the  New  England  landscape,  each  too 
well  entertained  with  her  own  thoughts  to  need 
the  other.  Miss  Gay  lord's  sharp  eyes  and  ears 
had  read  between  the  lines  of  the  recent  interview 
more  perhaps  than  was  there.  At  all  events, 
nothing  seemed  so  natural  to  her  as  for  any  man 
who  saw  Margaret  to  fall  in  love  with  her,  and 
Vandyke  was  as  satisfactory  from  an  aesthetic 
point  of  view  as  any  one  she  could  hope  to  find. 
The  fact  that  he  had  failed  to  recognize  her  exist 
ence  this  morning  pleased  her  romantic  sense. 
The  concentration  of  his  face  and  its  Byronic 
"loom  were  entirely  in  accord  with  the  fitness  of 

O  v 

things. 

She  wondered  if  it  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
sweet  expression  of  Miss  Carruth's  grave  lips 
now  ?  They  seemed  as  if  a  smile  lurked  near  the 
surface. 

tw  Mr,  Vandyke  does  n't  look  well,"  she  said. 


Muvg'urH  was  too  deepiv  immersed  in  IHT  da^- 
di'cain  to  hear  the  remark  until  it  was  repeated. 

She  nodded.  ••  lie  told  mother  that  his  \\  extern 
tri]i  had  been  verv  exciting1,  she  answered. 

••  Is  n  1  it  hard  on  men  to  have  to  st:>\-  in  the 
citv  and  \\ork  all  sii!miier7  pursued  Mi»  (ia\- 
loi'd  tritch. 

••  \\  illard  is  sure  of  a  fortnight." 
.  ••  Well,  isn't  Mr.  Vundyke? 

-  Probably." 

••  N  In-  cuniin^  to  (  TitV  Not  '!  " 

•-No.  lie  is  ^'oinii'  to  Spindrift.  Mrs.  Harlin^'s 
cottage. 

••  \\hat  a  shame!  e  picidated  Miss  (iavlurd 
hotly. 

••  \\  hv  7      asked   Margaret  traii([uillv. 

Althea  looked  at  her  mutely.  Mi>s  ('arrnth 
had  never,  direetlv  or  indirectly,  criticised  her 
cousin's  v/ife.  Miss  (iavlord  did  not  dare  to  ex- 
jircss  her  thou^'lits.  She1  stirred  re>tivrly. 

••  \\  e  can  t  talk  about  Mrs.  Darling.  \  ou  know 
that."  she  said  at  last. 

kv  That  is  true." 

"Then  what  do  von  mean  —  tempting;'  me  b\~ 
asking  •\\"hv'7"  Althea  i^ave  an  imitation  of 
the  other  s  manner  which  made  Mar<>'ai'('1  smile. 

"Oh  well,  it's  all  ri^'hl,"  answered  the  latter 
vaguely. 

'•It  is  a  pity  your  mother  did  not  ask  him 
sooner." 


CLIFF   NEXT  213 

Miss  Carruth  did  not  answer,  although  she  un 
derstood  perfectly  Mrs.  Darling's  generalship. 

The  following1  day  Miss  Gaylord  wrote  a  note 
home. 

"Oh,  I  <ini  having  sneh  a  good  time!"  it  said. 
fci  Yesterday  when  we  drove  up  to  Cliff  Xest  1  felt 
as  if  my  heart  would  burst  with  feelings  !  Even 
if  I  am  from  Colorado,  I  never  saw  so  much  sun 
shine,  so  much  sky,  so  much  air,  so  much  rocks, 
so  much  daisies  and  buttercups,  and  above  all, 
so  much  water  !  I  felt  like  the  old  woman  who 
looked  out  011  the  ocean  for  the  first  time  and 
thanked  the  Lord  that  at  last  lie  had  let  her  see 
enough  of  something  !  Everything  was  just  dan 
cing  in  the  sunlight  and  salt  breeze,  except  the 
stiff,  sweet,  smelly  trees  that  stand  pointing1  at 
the  sky  like  Puritans.  They  seemed  to  say,  *  (Jet 
thee  behind  me,  Satan  ! '  to  the  South  Wind  when 
it  laid  hold  of  their  twigs  and  invited  them  to 
whirl.  There  are  such  big  piazzas  here,  and  one 
can  lie  in  the  hammock  way  above  the  tide  that 
sweeps  the  pebbles  to  and  fro  and  sounds  like — 
Oh,  why  am  I  such  an  earthy  creature,  with  such 
prosaic  thoughts  !  —  it  sounds  like  —  I  '11  whisper 
it  —  like  putting  in  coal !  "Well,  you  just  swing 
there  in  that  hammock  and  think  what  energetic 
things  you  "re  going  to  do  some  time  !  How  you 
will  climb  down  those  rocks  like  a  mountain  goat, 
and  play  among  the  pebbles,  and  stand  barefooted 
in  the  water  on  big  slippery  boulders,  and  squeal 


when  the  wave>  lireak  over  you—  and  know  all 
the  time  that  vou  ha\'e  n  t  energy  enough  to  do  a 
tiling1  lint  count  the  white  butterflies  out  at  sea. 
( )h.  it  ">  l  he  finest  place  ever  ! 

••  I'his  moriim._s  presto  change!  \\hat  a  trans- 
formation  !  \\  e  woke  up  to  a  fo^  :  and  if  then- 
is  anything  more  fascinating  here  than  the  >nn- 
shine.  it  is  a  fo^-.  I  am  >iuinu'  by  a  crackling' 
lire  of  lo^'s.  and  outside  the  window  the  >oft  ".ray 
clouds  have  fallen  wav  to  the  ^rass.  There  is 
nothing  pacilic  alxnit  the  Atlantic  to-dav.  I  icil 
von.  It  is  booming  against  our  cliff  in  \\hai  the\ 
call  foii'-waves,  and  when  the  sun  comes  out  ii  will 
be  a  picnic  inst  to  watch  Neptune  cavort. 

••I  hope  I  wrote  von  thai  old  Mr.  Heche  died. 
1  went  to  the  funeral  \\ith  the  Carniths,  and  the\ 
have  invited  Mi->  I>eel>e  up  here.  Arent  thev 
the  kindest  people  that  ever  happened  ?  She  will 
have  such  a  happy,  restful  summer  here,  and  tins 
fascinating  Ne-t  is  bit;  enough  tor  all  the  stra\' 
or])han  birds  that  need  a  haven.  \  on  arc  perfect 
dears  to  let  me  have  tins  visit,  and  I  11  trv  to  be 
snch  a  nice  Li'irl  when  I  uei  home  that  \ou  11  be 
!Ldad  vou  let  me  ^et  so  close  for  a  while  to  the 
.Magnet.  She  saii'j;'  this  morning.  ()li.  ho\v  >he 
sail";  !  It  hardly  seemed  safe  in  such  a  I'OL:.  fur 
fear  the  sailors  would  hear  and  the  vessels  all 
pound  to  pieces  on  our  cliff. 

••  Write  often  to   your  child  in   PavadisP. 

-•  ALTIIKA." 


It  was  not  long  before  tired  little  Miss  Beebe 
came  from  the  inland  dust  of  Spring-dale  to  l>e 
rejuvenated  in  the  life-giving  sea-air.  Margaret 
sang  to  her  by  request  on  the  very  day  of  her 
arrival,  and,  niueli  as  the  guest  enjoyed  it,  she  was 
still  more  thrilled  by  the  significance  of  the  act. 

The  first  moment  which  she  could  secure  with 
Mrs.  Carruth  alone,  Miss  Luella's  eye  seemed  to 
be  attacked  with  St.  Vitns'  dance  —  so  fast  and 
furiously  did  its  knowing  winks  crowd  upon  one 
another. 

"It's  all  right,  Emeline,  isn't  it?"  she  ex 
claimed,  using  a  cautious  whisper  although  both 
the  girls  had  gone  with  a  local  fisherman  in  his 
dory  to  visit  his  lobster-traps. 

"  I  hardly  dare  to  say,"  replied  Mrs.  Carruth. 

"  1  'd  give  more  for  the  look  in  your  face  than 
for  any  other  assurance,"  said  Miss  Beebe  trium 
phantly. 

They  were  sitting  in  steamer-chairs  in  a  portion 
of  the  piazza  inclosed  in  glass  to  keep  off  the  pre 
vailing  southeast  winds. 

"  I  have  felt  since  we  came  here  tliat  it  was  like 
waking  from  a  bad  dream  into  the  real  world," 
said  Mrs.  Carruth.  "  The  restful  cessation  from 
planning  and  executing,  the  knowledge  when  I 
waken  in  the  morning  that  no  one  expects  any 
thing  of  me  all  day,  is  sweetness  itself." 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Miss  Beebe  sympathetically. 
"You  do  work  like  a  slave  ! ' 


21(5 


••Then.  i:i  iiildition.  to  have  Margaret  so  li'jht- 
hearled  mako.  JIM-  very  happy.  That  lionot  lit 
tle  Ahhea  (iaylord  is  -nod  for  her.  I  like  the 
:.';;r!  thoroughly  :  lmt  it  has  ;il\\'a\'s  Keen  a  surprise 
and  a  mystery  to  me  that  Margaret  was  sufficiently 
attracted  to  make  a  companion  of  her  such  a 
liii'lit-wci^ht  as  sin'  is  ! 

••  Ah.  Kmeline  !  returned  Miss  I>eelie  -hrewdlv. 
••that  is  the  very  fascination.  Margaret  wa-  a 
clever  child,  and  you  always  expected  her  to  have 
an  old  head  on  yoiinu'  slioulders.  and  held  .her  up 
to  the  level  of  your  own  mteivst>.  as  it  were.  1  Ins 
js  one  d|  the  reactions  to  be  expected.  It  >he  \\cre 
a  in. in.  she  d  have  v>wn  \\ild  oats  all  over  the 
place  h\  thi>  tiiii".  As  il  N.  here  's  i  hi.-  1li|i|>ant- 
talkiny'.  unconventional  ti'irl.  utterh  unlike  anv- 
thin^1  Margaret  is  used  to.  and  ilie  unlikeness  rests 
her  and  attracts  her.  It  s  one  ot  the  luckiest 
things  that  evci'  happened  to  Althea.  She  \\<ir- 
.ships  Margaret,  and  we  ^row  like  what  we  love 
best  and  1  hink  about  most . 

Mr.-.  Carruth  looked  troubled.  ••  It  \ou  have 
seen  me  doini;'  an  injustice  to  Margaret  all  these 
years,  why  haven  t  \ou  said  so? 

••  What   ri-ht   had   I?" 

•••  I'vVerv  n^'ht.  as  \on  know. 

Miss  Beebe  stirred  uneasily  :  she  always  did  at 
such  references. 

that 


CLIFF   NEST  217 

they  are  the  only  folks  truly  inspired  as  to  bring 
ing1  up  children.'' 

Mrs.  Carrutli  looked  far  away.  k'  Poor  little 
Magnet !  "  she  said  thoughtfully.  When  her  eyes 
again  met  Miss  Beebc's,  they  were  swimming. 
k>  1  don't  know  inueh,  Luella,"  she  said  hninblv. 

tk  Well.  I  don't  know  anybody  that  knows 
more,"  responded  Miss  Beebe  warmly.  "I  wasn't 
finding  any  fault.  I  was  only  explaining  the  way 
I  'd  thought  it  out.  You  have  every  reason  to  be 
proud  of  the  result,  whatever  way  you  brought 
Margaret  up  ;  and  now  do  tell  me  how  —  what  — 
oh.  you  know,  Emeline  —  are  they  engaged?" 

"  Xo,"  said  Mrs.  Carrutli,  shaking  her  head 
decidedly. 

"  Why,  he  's  slower  than  molasses  in  winter !  " 
ejaculated  Miss  Beebe  resentfully. 

"  I  don't  think  so  at  all,"  was  the  calm  response. 
"  lie  has  been  out  of  town  almost  constantly 
since  the  concert,  and  you  must  remember  that  if 
his  state  of  mind  is  what  we  hope,  he  should  feel 
some  modesty  in  the  matter,  and  that  is  what  I 
believe  now  he  is  suffering  from  ;  for  he  is  suffer 
ing  :  he  was  not  himself  at  all  on  the  last  two 
occasions  that  I  saw  him." 

Mrs.  Carrutli  gave  a  humorous  account  of  the 
brief  interview  in  the  train,  to  which  Miss  Beebe 
listened  eagerly,  her  head  cocked  appreciatively  on 
the  side. 

"  And  what  does  Margaret  say?  " 


ins 

Mrs.  ('arruth  smiled.  "That  is  an  odd  ques 
tion.  Luella." 

••  I  suppose  vou  mean  YOU  would  n't  tell." 

••  i  mean  that  von  ini^'ht  kno\v  Margaret 
would  n't  say  anything'.  I  am  even  in  doulil  as 
to  \\hat  she  thinks.  It  is  a  ^reat  indication  to 
jiie.  however,  that  she  sin^x  and  is  happy. 

"  \\  hv,  of  eourse  it  is.  !  never  saw  Margaret 
as  happy.  MI.-.S  Beebe's  eyes  snapped.  ".Have 
von  invited  linn  here  '.' 

"  Yes  :  hut  I  was  too  late.  He  had  accepted 
M  rs.  I  )arliii!4'  s  in  vitat  ion. 

Miss  Beelu;  set  her  thin  lips  together  roent- 
Inlly. 

"  Kmeliue  ('arrnth.  sometimes  it  seems  as  if  I 
must  speak  ri^'ht  out  !  " 

••  I  would  n  t.  Mrs.  Darling  always  entertains 
a  ^'1'rat  deal.  She  doesn't  rare  for  quiet.  Why 
should  lie  not  he  one  of  her  guests?  He  is  a 
prime  favorite  witli  lier  husband. 

"  But  I  d  like  to  know  how  things  are  <^oin^'  to 
work  around."  said  Miss  Beelje  aii'^rievedly. 

"Oh.  Spindrift  is  lint  a  short  distance  awa\. 

w*  But  she  won't  let  him  come  !  She'll  contrive 
to  prevent  him. 

In  her  heart  Mrs.  ('arruth  knew  there  was 
much  force  in  this  argument:  luit  she  replied:--- 

"  Then  he  will  not  want  much  to  come.  \\  here 
there  "s  a  will  there  "s  a  way." 

••  Kmeliue  CaiTuth," —  Miss  Beobe  I'aised  hei'self 


CLIFF   NEST  219 

from  the  depths  of  the  steamer-chair,  —  "  Heaven 
helps  those  who  help  themselves.  If  you  let  fall 
come  without  having-  lost  your  daughter  one  way, 
you  '11  lose  her  another." 

"  I  'm  very  much  afraid  of  it,"  returned  the 
other  gravely.  She  sighed.  "  But  I  'm  so  tired, 
Luella.  Let  me  do  nothing  now." 

"  That 's  all  right.  You  're  like  that  man  in 
the  Mythology  at  school.  He  had  to  touch  the 
earth  once  in  so  often  to  renew  his  strength." 

"  Yes,  that 's  it.  I  just  need  to  be  put  out  to 
grass  for  a  little  while." 


CIIAITKK    XV 

I.K     I>\y> 


A  FKW  days  afterward  Mrs.  Darling'.  j>as>in^  in 
her  carriage.  beckoned  \Villard  French,  who  bowed 
to  her  from  the  sidewalk. 

Obeying  her  gesture,  he  approached  as  the 
equipage  stopped. 

••  \\  hv  can  I  V(»H  come  home  to  dinner  with 
me  '?  '  she  asked. 

••  I  can.  I  remember  the  liree/.e  von  u'et  on  that 
fetching  little  balcony  oi  vonrs.  lie  stepped 
into  the  victoria  and  the  horses  started. 

"•  Poor  boy!  Is  vonr  room  hot  7  (  'oiue  over 
and  sta\'  at  onr  house  wlieiievi'i'  you  like.  It  will 
be  open  most  ot  the  summer.,  tor  Ilenrv  will  be 
coming  and  <£<>iii<»1. 

"  Oil,  you  arc  just  about  leaving,  then  ?  I'  reneh 
regarded  a])])i'o\rin^ly  her  u'ray  and  \\hite  summer 
toilet  and  the  cool  little  leal'v  bonnet  she  \\ore. 

'"Yes.  .Ilenrv  promises  to  divide  his  time  be 
tween  Boston  and  ('rest  \  iew.  so  I  mi^'ht  as  well 
be  there." 

French  hoped  his  wife,  if  lie  ever  had  one.  would 
be  less  easily  satisfied  with  impossible  promises. 


SUMMER    DAYS  221 

"  I  wish  I  could  do  that,  —  divide  my  time 
equally  between  Boston  and  Crest  View." 

u  I  wisli  you  could.  It  should,  be  a  few  miles 
nearer  ;  but  then,  if  it  were,  it  would  be  instantly 
overrun  and  spoiled." 

French  took  off  his  hat  to  the  freshening  air 
and  sighed.  k%  Only  the  wealthy  enjoy  this  life," 
he  remarked  plaintively. 

His  companion  regarded  him  with  approving 
scrutiny.  "  You  're  not  very  clever,  AVillard. 
You  ought  to  marry  Margaret  Carruth." 

"  That  *s  what  I  tell  her." 

'•  Oh,  nonsense  !  You  ought  to  treat  the  matter 
seriously." 

"•  How  do  you  know  I  don't,  Molly  Darling?" 

"  Because  I  'm  sure  no  one  in  Boston  has  had 
so  good  a  chance  with  her  as  yourself." 

'•  No."'  French  shook  his  head.  "  We  began 
keeping  house  too  early  in  life.  It 's  against  me. 
She  forgets  how  amply  I  kept  the  larder  supplied 
with  mud-pies  ;  she  even  complains  that  I  insisted 
on  making  most  of  them  myself." 

11  And  you  have  drifted  along,  merely  keeping 
up  this  joking  relation  between  you,  when  you 
might  have  been  that  envied  being,  Margaret 
Carruth's  husband." 

The  speaker's  tone  was  one  of  genuine  annoy 
ance.  French  glanced  at  her  curiously.  The 
time  had  been  when  her  resentment  would  have 
been  roused  by  the  slightest  effort  on  his  part  in 
that  direction. 


••  You  know  what  a  friend  I  am  to  YOU.  "\Vil- 
lard.  and  I  have  your  best  good  at  heart."  She 
gave  him  a  sweet  smile.  *•  You  know  all  women 
are  mutch-makers,  more  or  less.  Perhaps  I  am 
more. 

French  laughed.  Mrs.  Darling1  flushed,  then 
decided  not  to  take  the  laugh  as  a  rudeness. 

"•  At  any  rate.  I  have  thought  a  great  deal  about 
this  since  Margaret  s  ama/inn1  success  at  thai  con 
cert.  She  and  her  mother  are  verv  reserved,  lint 
if  cousin  Fmeline  is  n  t  mortally  opposed  to  Mar 
garet  s  being  a  professional  singer,  then  I  ha\e 
no  penetration  whatever.  She  naturally  would 
lie:  and.  YOU  know,  there  is  no  telling  what  Mar 
garet  s  heredit  v  is  and 

••  Hush  !  "  interrupted  .French  softly.  ••  lie  care 
ful  :  - 

••  TVho  is  to  hear  us.  prav?" 

••Oh.  the  carriage  cushions  may  have  ears:  or 
the  drivei',  who  knows?  ' 

Mrs.  Darling  gave  a  scornful  little  laugh.  ••  You 
always  were  absurdly  cautious.  If  you  were  an 
insurance  man  I  'm  sure  you  would  not  accept  anv 
risk  greater  than  pig-iron  under  water." 

"That  is  all  right."  returned  French  persist 
ently.  "  If  there  is  any  division  of  opinion  at 
present  between  Mrs.  Carruth  and  Margaret,  it 
behooves  us  not  even  to  think  of  the  thing  that 
could  divide  them  further." 

"  That   could   snap  them   as   far   asunder  as  the 


HUMMER    DAYS  228 

poles,  you  mean,"  said  Mrs.  Darling,  with  a  curi 
ous  little  smile. 

"Possibly,"  admitted  "Willard  ;  "  possibly  not." 

"  Well,  I  'in  not  thinking1  of  it,"  said  Mrs.  Dar 
ling-,  in  a  changed  tone.  "  I  'm  thinking-  of  the 
opposite  ;  namely,  the  thing-  that  could  bring-  them 
together  :  Margaret's  marriage." 

"  Two  people's  business,  as  sure  as  you  live," 
suggested  French. 

u  Very  well :  but  possibly  you  are  one  of  the 
two  :  and  even  if  I  am  not  the  other,  I  think  you 
are  not  very  civil."  The  speaker  opened  her  eyes, 
the  picture  of  grieved  innocence. 

French  shook  his  head.  "  I  'm  only  very  sure 
that  Margaret  would  not  be  pliable.  There  is  no 
use  in  match-making  for  her." 

"  But  for  you  there  might  be,"  rejoined  the 
other.  "  AVhen  I  see  you  throwing  away  a  golden 
opportunity,  what  can  I  do  ?  Cousin  Emeline 
treats  you  like  one  of  the  family,  you  know  she 
does." 

"  Yes." 

"•  Do  you  believe  there  is  another  man  in  Boston 
who  has  a  better  chance?" 

The  question  threw  light  for  French.  He 
thought  he  understood  at  last  the  trend  of  this 
unusual  altruism.  lie  smiled.  "  I  appreciate,  at 
any  rate,  your  delicacy  in  not  endeavoring1  to  dis 
cover  the  condition  of  my  heart." 

Mrs.   Darling-   shrugged   her   shoulders.      "  You 


have  common  sense.  Yon  ought  to  lie  in  tli(i 
seventh  heaven  if  yon  could  make  such  a  marriage 
as  that.  Look  here.  \\  illard.  I  '11  help  von  ',»  it. 
( 'ome  down  to  Spindrift  tor  vonr  vacation 
of  course  you  will  spend  parr  oi'  it  with  the  Car- 
ruths." 

••   I    hope  to. 

••  I  will  help  von. 

"  How?      I>v  keeping  \  andyke  awav '.' 

Mrs.  Darling  colored  violcntlv.  "  \\hat  has 
he  to  do  wit  h  it  7  " 

••  1  don  t  know.  Do  von'/  .French  -nnled 
directly  into  her  displeased  eyes.  "  1  thought  per 
haps  I  might  run  against  him  at  ('hit  Nest  :  that  s 
all." 

Mrs.  Darling  recovered  hcrseir.  "Mr.  \andvl\e 
is  to  he  mv  guest. 

"Oh.  I  see!  Then  von  can  have  a  ni'-e  little 
puppet-show:  hold  him  olV  witli  one  hand  and  set 
me  on  with  the  other,  and  pull  a  string  for  Mag 
net  to  come  and  go. 

"You  are  an  ungrateful,  saucv  man.  and  I  have 
a  great  mind  to  wash  mv  hands  of  von. 

••  So  far  as  Magnet  is  concerned,  you  would  liet- 
ter.  1  he  calile  was  never  twisted  that  would  serve 
as  a  string  to  pull  in  her  case.  Still."  added  French 
wickedlv,  "•  if  yon  would  transfer  vonr  kind  inter 
est  from  me  to  \  andvkc.  von  might  have  more 
luck.  lie  isn't  such  an  old  storv  :  and  —con 
fidentially —  "since  von  ask  me  if  there  is  a  man 


SUMMER    DAYS  225 

in  Boston  with  a  better  chance  in  that  quarter 
than  mine,  I  should  guess,  from  numerous  trifles 
light  as  aii'.  that  Burton  Vandyke  is  his  name." 

Mrs.  Darling  gave  her  dainty  bonnet  an  un 
necessary  rearrangement.  "  1  should  say,"  she 
returned  carelessly,  "that  Mr.  Vandyke  is  scarcely 
a  marrying  man." 

••  I  suppose  you  know,"  remarked  French  after 
a  pause,  "  that  the  Carruths  are  at  Cliff  Nest." 

l-  Do  you  suppose  they  would  go  without  saying 
good-by  to  me  ?  " 

From  one  offense  French  had  gone  on  uncon 
sciously  to  another.  His  companion  was  extremely 
jealous  of  her  reputation  as  near  relative. 

"How  is  the  little  Gay  lord  getting  on?"  pro 
ceeded  Mrs.  Darling.  "•  I  should  suppose  she 
would  wilt  by  this  time  under  that  roof.  I  won 
der  if  she  is  at  all  responsible  for  your  cool  atti 
tude  toward  golden  opportunities  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Molly  Darling,"  with  a  sigh  that  was 
dangerously  near  a  yawn,  u  you  press  me  close, 
considering  the  state  of  the  thermometer.  As  to 
my  ward,  she  has  deserted  me." 

'•Gone  home?  Uncivil  little  creature!  Let 
me  see,  though :  perhaps  it  is  I  who  have  been 
uncivil.  I  have  n't  visited  her  for  a  long  time ; 
and  I  did  mean  to  have  her  to  dinner  once." 

"  Do  it  at  Spindrift.  She  is  trying  her  wings 
at  Cliff  Nest  at  present  on  an  indefinite  invita 
tion." 


Mrs.  Darling  was  ver\  much  astonished,  and 
could  not  conceal  it.  She  knew  that  the  ('arruth-' 
philanthropy  did  not  include  spoiling  their  vaca 
tion.  It  was  the  sign  of  a  sincere  liking  for 
Altliea  that  they  had  taken  her  with  them. 

••  1  his  must  lie  your  doing,  \\  illard.  !!»\\  now 
aliout  vour  intluence  with  ( 'otisin  Kiueline  ? 

••(mess  again.  1  never  lifted  mv  linger.  It 
was  only  that  Magnet  said.  •  Come.'  and  m\  ward 
did  not  hesitate  an  instant  between  us," 

••  Margaret  Carruth  and  that  little  light-In  aded. 
superficial,  slangv 

••  Slowlv.  slowK  !  I)ra\v  it  mild.  Molly!  ^  on 
meant  to  sav  that  little  clear-headed,  kind-hearted, 
lionot.  resolute,  geiierou^  girl 

••  It  /'.<  that  tiresome  child,  then,  \\illard 
French  !  " 

••  \\  hv.'  asked  the  voimi;'  man  plaintively. 
••  must  it  lie  anvhodv  before  dinner  on  a  dav 
like  this?  How  j^'lad  I  am  that  von  are  incapa 
ble  of  offering  a  man  hot  soup  to-night!  Mrs. 
JKirlow  would  do  it  and  nevci1  ilim-h.  A  rent 
those  Darling's  hospitable  heels  hovering  over  u- 
now  up  there  on  the  baleony V  added  rrencli. 
cruning  his  neck  and  lifting  his  hat  to  lus  lio-^t. 
who  nodded  down  as  the  carriage  stopped. 

Mrs.  Carruth  looked  up  at  the  tea-table  a  few 
evenings  afterward  from  the  examination  ot  the 
letters  that  had  been  brought  in  to  her. 


*  VMM  Ell    DAYS  227 

"  Mrs.  Darling  has  arrived  at  Spindrift,"  she 
said. 

'•Whore  is  Mr.  I  )arling  ?  "  asked  Miss  Beebe 
alertly. 

"  She  says  he  has  just  left  town,  and  will  come 
up  here  when  he  gets  back.  I  do  hope  he  can." 

l-  Does  n't  generally  get  a  chance  to  be  here 
much,  does  he  ? "  inquired  Miss  Luella,  endeavor 
ing  not  to  throw  too  much  significance  into  her 
tone. 

"  lie  is  a  very  busy  man  ;  busy  and  hard-work 
ing."  Mrs.  Carruth  glanced  again  at  her  letter. 
"•  Mrs.  Darling  wants  me  to  send  you,  Margaret 
and  Althea,  to  see  her  at  once." 

Althea  looked  at  Margaret,  who  answered  :  — 

••  Yes,  we  will  drive  over  to-morrow,  or  perhaps 
ride.  Do  you  ride,  Althea?  " 

"  Do  I  ?  '  Bred  an  bawn  in  a  brier  patch,  Brer 
Fox.  Bred  an'  bawn  in  a  brier  patch.'  I  used  to 
tell  Mr.  French  that  missing  my  pony  was  the 
worst  privation  I  had  all  winter." 

Tne  girls,  when  they  arrived  at  Spindrift  the 
next  dav,  found  Mrs.  Darlinir  Ivine'  in  a  hammock 

i-  O        t>  O 

reading. 

"  You  naughty  girl !  "  she  said  good-humoredly 
to  Althea.  "  Now  Margaret  has  you  to  ride  with, 
she  will  never  need  me  any  more."  It  was  Mrs. 
Darling's  habit  to  imply  at  all  times  a  condition 
of  things  between  herself  and  the  Carruths  which 
never  existed.  In  the  years  during  which  they 


228 

had  spent  their  summers  ;it  ('rot  View,  the  two 
had  ridden  together  twice.  "How  well  von  both 
seem  already,  -he  contimicd.  hospitably  piv-ent- 
in-'  chairs.  "I  suppose  i  i,><ik  to  you  like  crumpled 

white  paper.      Just    wait    a    week.       Vou    have   the 


"What  a  daisy  cottage."  said  Ahh"a.  "Thai 
isn't  .-Ian:;'.  Magnet,  is  it.  \si;h  such  lot-.nl'  dais\ 
snowdrifts  about  '.' 

Mr-.  Darling,  alertly  sensitive,  noted  t  he  familiar 
address  and  the  affectionate  confidence  of  the  ^iiT> 
manner. 

••  It   is  pretty,  isn't  it?"  she  re-ponded. 

••  This  is  the  one  that  should  be  named  •  Nest,'  " 
continued  Althea. 

••  (  )h.  tins  is  a  humble  little  -parrow  >  ne>t.  clo>e 
to  the  ground."  said  Mrs.  Darlin--.  ••  Marpii'et's 
is  the  eaii'le  s  ne-t  hi^li  on  the  eiitV.  1  [o'\  e\ -er. 
each  has  its  ^ood  points,  so  lon<;-  as  the  little  liirds 
ai^'ree  in  it.  as  thev  do  in  the  hymn. 

-•  And  li<ith  are  on  the  ocean  s  cdifo.  so  what 
does  it  mattei'7  .-aid  Margaret,  looking  aci'oss 
the  beach  to  a  da/xle  ot  water. 

••Shall  yon  ha\c  much  company  this  year,  Mar 
garet?" 

••  1  think  not.       Mi-s  Beebe  is  with  us  now." 

••How  exciting!  Hear  me!  —bill  vou  people 
are  v;ood  to  that  little  Miss  Pry.  Let  me  see. 
Soinebodv  died  :  her  father,  wa-  n't  it  7  \  on  \\cnt 
to  Podunk — tliei'e  --  wherever  it  is  she  lives." 


SUMMER  o.irx  229 

"  Thank  you,"  smiled  Margaret.  "  Podunk  is  my 
native  place,  and  Willard  French's  too.  I  have  a 
gTeat  respect  for  the  town,  I  assure  you.  I  made 
mother  take  me  to  the  old  square  white  house 
with  elms  in  front  of  it,  where  her  parents  lived 
and  where  I  was  horn.  A  charming'  old  place." 

"Oh,  indeed?"'  said  Mrs.  Darling,  examining1 
her  exquisite  little  finger-nail,  pink  and  white  and 
smooth  as  a  iewel.  k*  Forgive  me.  It  is  n't 

t) 

Podunk,  1  remember.      It  is  Spring-something." 

u  Springdale  ;  and  Willard  and  I  will  defend  it 
to  the  last." 

*•"  Willard   dined  with  me   a   few  days   ago,  — 
such  a  warm  evening',  poor  hoy." 

'•  Yes  indeed,  the  city  is  full  of  poor  hoys. 
Henry,  for  instance.  How  did  you  leave  him?" 

Margaret  spoke  without  the  least  intention  to 
offend,  but  Mrs.  Darling  changed  color.  She  was 
always  jealous  of  the  Carruths'  love  for  her  hus 
band  and  suspicious  that  they  criticised  her. 

'k  Henry  left  town  the  same  day  I  did.  1  think 
traveling  has  become  a  nervous  disease  with  him. 
I  don't  believe  he  could  be  content  a  month  in 
one  place.  I  've  made  him  promise  to  try  it  here, 
though." 

"  I  'm  glad  he  did  promise,"  returned  Margaret 
pleasantly. 

ik  I  was  shrewd  —  foxy,  Althea  would  say  " 
Mrs.  Darling  laughed  and  turned  toward  the  girl, 
who  shook  her  head. 


••Oil.  no.  I  >hould  n't."  returned  Miss  (ia\lord. 
••  It  co-t  -  tiid  much.  I  ;IID  economi/in:4'. 

••Yes.  I  have  heard  about  your  >lai;e  !io\. 
\Yell.  at  all  events.  I  \vas  slnv\vd.  and  I  baited 
Spindrift  with  Mi1,  \and\ke.  If  anything  could 
content  Ilenrv  here,  it  would  lie  In-;  presence. 

••  A-  il  he  needed  anv  attraction  beside  \:n\'. 
said  Margaret,  and  Mrs.  Darling  .-o  \\rll  kne\v 
her  sincerity  that  -he  experienced  a  scn-alion  of 
pleasure.  Margaret  s  sei'ciiitv,  too.  at  her  an 
nouncement,  was  LiTatit  viii".'.  In  \  andvke's  case 
Mrs.  DaiiinL;'  did  not  e\en  led  the  need  of  rous 
ing  the  envv  of  otlier  women.  All  >he  wanted 
\vas  that  they  should  let  him  alone  and  leave  him 
to  her.  But  the  mo-t  honest  ot  \vomcii  \\ould 
a.->n:ne  in  such  a  case.  She  \vas  not  altogether 
sati-lied.  French's  hints  had  heightened  suspi 
cions  already  formed. 

••  I  suspect  we  shall  (juarrel  a  bit  over  \\  il- 
lard."  continued  Mrs.  Darling.  ••  You  will  want 
him  and  I  shall  want  him." 

Miss  (ia\lord  listened  attentively,  although  the 
appearance  was  that  her  attention  was  alisorlted 
by  the  landscape. 

••  Probably  we  can  effect  a  compromise.  re 
turned  Margaret.  ••  \Ve  can  divide  him." 

••  \  ery  well.  ^  on  may  keej)  his  head,  to  make 
love  to  you.  j^'irls.  and  I  will  take  his  feet.  I  need 
him  more  for  tennis  and  dancing.  As  tor  you. 
Althea  (iavlord."  turning  to  the  ",'irl  with  mock' 


sr.i/ .]//•; R  DAYS  231 

severity,  "  you  and  I  must  renew  our  acquaint 
ance.  You  have  been  such  a  hermit  all  winter." 

'•  What  nerve  !  "  thought  Althea.  What  had 
Mrs.  Darling-  done  to  prevent  her  being1  a  hermit? 
But  she  replied  mildly  that  she  should  be  very 
glad. 

"Have  you  tried  the  bathing  yet?''  pursued 
the  hostess. 

"  Yesterday,"  returned  Althea.  '•  Miss  Beebe 
went  in  with  us."  As  she  said  it,  she  laughed 
with  reluctant,  infectious  heartiness,  her  eyes  be 
coming  moist,  as  was  their  wont  when  she  sus- 
spected  her  mirth  might  be  disapproved  by  Mar 
garet. 

The  latter  smiled.  "  It  seemed  funny  to  Althea 
that  Miss  Beebe  should  wear  her  eye-glasses  into 
the  water,"  she  explained. 

kt  And  it  was  cold,"  added  Miss  Gaylord,  "  and 
she  stood  on  the  edge  and  shook  first  one  foot  and 
then  the  other,  just  the  way  our  terrier  does  when 
he  gets  into  a  place  where  there  are  burrs,  and 
her  hair  was  done  up  in  a  yellow  handkerchief." 

'•Whose  hair?"  suggested  Mrs.  Darling  inso- 

oo  o 

lently. 

"  And  her  teeth  chattered." 

"Whose  teeth?" 

"  Children,  children ! "  protested  Margaret. 
"You  looked  too  blue  and  pinched  yourself,  Al 
thea,  to  make  any  comments  on  other  people." 

kk  I  know  I  did,"  laughed  the  girl  gayly.     "  For 


the  first  minute  I  shrank  till  it  seemed  :is  if  there 
would  be  nothing'  lett  of  me  :  then  I  expanded. 
It  was  line!  Miss  Beel)e  said  herself  she  disliked 
it  as  much  as  a  cat  would  :  but  she  is  <>1oin<>'  to  do 
it  for  her  hcall  h. 

The  irrepressible  mischief  in  Mi-s  (lavlord's 
countenance  reminded  Mrs.  Darling  of  sundry 
incidents  and  experiences  at  ('olorado  Springs.  It 
suddenly  occurred  to  her  that  in  the  girl's  cvi- 
dcntlv  intimate  relations  with  Miss  ('arruth,  Al- 


\vhicli  would    snrelv  arouse   Margaret  >  disapproval 

of  her  eou-in  s  wife,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  of 
Mrs.  Darlings  nc^lip'iicc  o!  the  "jrl  ail  winter. 
it  was  certainly  greatly  to  Mis..  (ia\!ord'->  credit 
if  she  had.  not  done  so.  Mrs.  I);;rliii^  believed 
that  she  had  not.  and  -he  looked  now  at  Althea 
enrionslv.  and  mentally  pronounced  her  a  trump. 

••I  in  sorry  1  have  11  t  seen  more  of  you.  she 
said  abrupt  Iv.  ••  Margaret,  don't  you  want  to  let 
me  keep  Althea  here  to-lli^'lll  ''. 

••  In  niv  habit  ?  Oh  no.  !  could  n  t  !  ])rotestecl 
the  u'irl  <|uickly. 

••  I  have  plenty  of  thing's  that  you  could  wear, 
and  there  is  no  one  to  see  you  but  mermen. 

••  lint  1  could  n  t  let  Magnet  canter  awa\  miles 
and  miles  alone. 

w-  My  dear,  she  has  done  it  hundreds  of  times. 
Iloweyer,  if  you  prefer  another  occasion,  I  will  not 
insist, 


su  MML-:  LI  DAYS  233 

When,  a  few  days  afterward,  Mrs.  Darling- 
drove  over  to  Cliff  Nest,  the  maid  told  her  that 
the  family  were  out  and  scattered.  The  girl 
thought  she  might  perhaps  find  Miss  Gaylord, 
who  had  not  been  feeling  well,  and  would  not  be 
likely  to  be  gone  far  from  home. 

wi  I  will  find  her  myself  if  you  think  she  is  elose 
by/'  said  Mrs.  Darling. 

The  maid  pointed  out  a  clump  of  firs  across  a 
rustic  bridge  that  spanned  a  ravine,  saying  that 
there  were  hammocks  there  and  that  Miss  (jay- 
lord  was  fond  of  the  place  ;  so  the  visitor  strolled 
thither. 

Truly,  she  thought  as  she  walked,  it  was  worth 
considerable  exertion  to  reach  at  last  a  summer 
home  like  this.  The  wild  beauty  of  the  spot  ap 
pealed  with  an  ever-fresh  charm.  On  the  bridge 
she  paused,  hemmed  in  by  firs  of  arrow  -  like 
straightness,  rooted  far  below  in  the  ravine,  whose 
smooth  bark  and  bluish  tinge  explained  the  bal 
samic  odors  in  the  air.  On  the  other  side  was 
the  grove  of  sturdy  weather-beaten  trees,  beyond 
which  the  rock-precipice  descended  to  the  tum 
bling  blue  waters  foaming  against  its  crags  with 
a  rhythmic  roar. 

Held  safe  above  the  climbing,  inexorable  power, 
lay  in  a  hammock  the  young  girl  Mrs.  Darling 
sought.  She  was  reading,  and  her  earnest  brow 
betokened  an  absorbing  interest  in  her  book. 

"  For  pity's  sake,    lend    it    to  me ! "    said    the 


visitor,  her  voice  sounding  shrill  TO  ears  grown 
wonted  to  Oceans  heavy  buss.  ••  I  am  looking 
for  something  as  interesting  as  that.  Lie  still! 
Don't  move!  '  for  Althea  was  hastening  to  ri>e. 
••  I  will  take  this  other  hammock.  \\  hat  ai'e  \oi; 
reading  ?  " 

••  The  Odyssey." 

••The          Odyssey!  Mrs.     Darling's    amaze 

ment  was  ludicrous.      --AVhat  for?" 

••  Because  Miss  Magnet  was  surprised  that  1  never 
had  read  it. 

••Well.  Margaret  Carrnth  is  the  typical  Boston 
girl,  sure  enough." 

"•Minns  the  eve-glasses,      drav.led   Althea. 

"They  II  come  in  good  time,  if  she  is  lo\allv 
literary." 

••She  reads  everything  that   is  worth  \\hile. 

The  response  for  some  reason  made  Mrs.  Dar 
ling  think"  of  Burton  Vandyke.  Another  cause 
for  suspicion. 

"  A  pitv  she  did  n  t  marry  her  cousin  llenrv. 
she  remarked  lightlv.  "lint  what  she  proliaM\ 
\vill  do  is  to  follow  his  example  and  inarrv  a  dolt. 
I  low  disloyal  of  you,  Allie.  to  desert  from  tin- 
ranks  of  the  ignoramuses  or  ignorami  -  which 
is  it?  It  von  are  growing  so  learned,  perhaps 
yon  can  tell  me." 

••('all  me  Althea.  please."  said  the  girl  with 
what  to  her  visitor  seemed  a  very  funny  demure- 
ness. 


SUMMER    DAYS  235 

"  Why  ?  I  used  to  know  a  jolly  girl  named 
Allie  Gay  lord.'' 

"  Yes,  but  she  's  dead.  Died  in  Newbury 
Street,  Boston." 

"•  And  Willard  French  never  told  me.  How 
heartless  of  him  !  " 

"•  Perhaps  he  thought  it  would  n't  interest  you." 

"  There  it  comes  !  "  remarked  Mrs.  Darling 
buoyantly.  tk  I  wondered  how  long  it  would  be 
before  you  reminded  me  that  I  have  failed  in 
friendship.  I  know  it,  Allie  ;  but  it  has  been  a 
very  strange  winter  to  me,  —  a  very  strange 
winter,  and  very  full/'  The  speaker  looked  off 
through  the  trees  to  the  foam  creaming  over  a  dis 
tant  ledge.  '•  1  have  been,  in  a  small  way,  study 
ing  too." 

"•  There 's  no  resisting  Boston's  culture,  is 
there  ?  "  returned  Althea,  closing  one  eye  and  gaz 
ing  unblinkingly  at  the  firmament  with  the  other. 

"  Well,  in  my  case,"  said  Mrs.  Darling,  poking 
the  toe  of  her  shoe  into  the  matted  needles  that 
carpeted  the  stony  ground,  "  it  was  a  mixture  of 
Boston  and  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Darling  is  always 
patient,  and  Mr.  Vandyke  has  bothered  himself  a 
lot  for  me." 

"  Mr.  Darling  is  patient,"  assented  Miss  Gay- 
lord,  and  the  mild  answer  flushed  her  companion's 
cheek.  She  had  not  forgotten  the  day  when  the 
Western  girl  arraigned  her  in  nervous  if  not  good 
English  for  her  dallyings  ;  but  she  had  taken  the 


236 

long  drne  to  Cliff  \est  to-day  with  a  purpose,  and 
fortune  had  favored  her  in  finding  Althea  alone. 
She  would  not  waste  time  in  trivial  reminiscences. 

••  I   forget  if  you  know    Mr.  Vandyke,     -lie  said. 

••  Well,  that  is  amusing  !  "  remarked  Mi-s  (iav- 
lord  nonchalantly.  "Ask  Mr.  Vandyke  if  !  don't 
make  as  good  lea  as  yon  do. 

••  Is  it  possible?  \\  ell.  my  dear.  I  be^m  to 
think  that  it  is  I  who  have  been  a  recluse.  l>ut 
then,  of  course,  he  is  such  a  friend  ol  \\  illard 
French. 

There  was  a  moment  >  pause  :  llien  Mrs.  Dar 
ling  went  on  in  a  lowered  tone.  ••  !)<>  you  know, 
I  heard  something  strange  two  or  three  davs  be 
fore  I  left  to\\n.  1  heard  Margaret  Carruth's 
name  coupled  with  Mr.  Vandyke's. 

-What  is  >trangc  about  that?"  a>ked  Althea 
so  coolly  that  the  visitor's  heart  gave  a  little 
thump,  although  she  returned  her  look-  calmly. 

••Oh.  you  think'  it  natural.  Mr.  Vandyke  is 
too  intimate  a  friend  of  mine  to  lie  having  definite 
plans  of  that  sort  without  my  knowing  it.  "1  ou. 
however,  may  know  more  ol  Margarets  attitude 
than  I  do. 

The  slight  sneering  emphasis  on  the  name  roused 
all  Althea's  caution  and  loyalty:  but  the  careless 
ness  of  her  manner  was  unchanged. 

"  ( )h  no."  she  returned  lightly.  ••  I  'in  not  sure 
whether  Miss  Magnet  remembers  his  existence 
between  times  or  not.  She  rarely  mention.^  him. 


SUMMER   DAYS  2o7 

That  is  the  reason  I  speak  of  it  at  all.  I  am  on 
the  outside,  looking  at  them  like  the  rest  of  the 
world,  and  I  realize  how  gladly  many  people  would 
see  them  join  hands." 

"  Why  ?  " 

"  Oh,  there  would  he  siich  evident  fitness  in  it." 

And  then,  for  Molly  Darling's  punishment,  be 
cause  she  had  startled  her  with  the  fear  of  having1 
admitted  something  to  Margaret's  hurt,  Althea 
gave  a  description,  humorous  but  significant,  of 
the  manner  in  which  Burton  Vandyke  had  seen 
their  party  off  in  Boston. 

Mrs.  Darling  listened  and  laughed.  lie  had 
not  sent  her  any  flowers.  lie  had  not  been  at  the 
train  to  say  good-by  to  her,  so  she  laughed  appre 
ciatively,  and  told  Althea  it  did  her  good  to  hear 
her  funny  yarns  again,  and  that  she  must  surely 
come  over  to  Spindrift  and  stay  for  days. 

But  her  talk  thereafter  was  vague.  She  did 
not  specify  the  days,  and  it  did  not  astonish  Althea 
that  she  was  never  sent  for. 


CHAPTEK    XVI 

THK     MKTUAYAL 

THK  light  that  never  was  on  sea  or  land  e'lvel- 
o])cd  her  surroundings  lor  Margaret  ('arrnth  in 
these  davs.  I  he  radiance  ol  a  gre;it  content 
beamed  softly  in  the  depths  of  her  eyes,  and  some 
thing  new  to  her  strong  and  undemonstrative 
nature  lent  s\\eetness  to  her  smile. 

Miss  l>eelie  watched  her  dubiously.  ••  I  ve 
always  thought  to!k>  in  love  were  mo.-tlv  inelau- 
choly."  slie  remarked  to  Mrs.  Carruth.  much  to 
that  lady's  amusement. 

'•  Then  Margaret  is  not."  replied  the  latter. 

k>  \\  ell.  something  has  happened  to  her.  de 
clared  Miss  Lnella. 

Margaret  knew  herself  that  something  had  hap 
pened  toher  that  transfiguring  something  which 
turns  a  dingy  town  street  into  a  paradisiacal 
bower,  and  made  the  surroundings  at  ('lift'  .Nest 
take  on  enchantment  which  filled  each  hour  with 
wondrous  possibilities.  Kverv  breeze  was  the 
bearer  of  a  message,  everv  ecstatic  bird-song  a 
voicing  of  her  own  heart's  fullness. 

Since  that  dav  of  parting  on  the  train  she  had 
not  doubted  ;  then  what  remained  but  to  thank 


THE   BETRAYAL  239 

God  for  life,  and  wait  for  the  fruition  of  that 
which  had  blossomed  ? 

Alone  in  a  rocky  seat  which  was  her  secret,  hid 
den  hy  ledges  of  granite  which  sheltered  her  from 
too  boisterous  wind,  the  girl  often  lived  over  the 
calendar  of  her  winter.  Its  red  letter  days  were 
few,  —  very  few  considering  how  much  from  her 
mother's  standpoint  had  been  accomplished. 

It  astonished  her  to  realize  how  comparatively 
seldom  she  and  Burton  Vandyke  had  been  to 
gether,  how  little  she  really  knew  about  him  —  of 
his  previous  life  and  friends,  of  his  family  and 
traditions.  All  that  seemed  superfluous.  The 
leaping  of  her  thought  to  his,  the  deep  satisfaction 
of  his  presence,  the  first  proud,  glad  admission  of 
her  soul  that  there  might  be  a  mate  for  her,  were 
the  oases  along  the  way  which  promised  that  her 
wilderness  should  blossom  as  the  rose. 

She  even  dwelt  willingly  on  the  moments  when 
his  abstraction  had  hurt  and  disappointed  her. 
His  lack  of  susceptibility  had  been  one  of  his 
charms.  She  leaned  upon  his  intellect ;  and  that 
day  in  the  train  she  had  read  his  dismay  at  finding 
himself  robbed  of  that  intellect's  supremacy. 

"  Will  he  be  afraid  of  me  —  of  my  money  ?  " 
she  mused,  leaning  her  chin  in  her  palm,  her 
shining  eyes  looking  out  on  the  billows.  "  Will 
he  be  afraid  of  mother  ?  " 

The  addition  brought  a  tide  of  red  to  her  cheeks 
and  a  catch  in  her  breath. 


••Ah.  1  hope  mother  will  be  careful!"  she 
breathed,  halt'  aloud. 

She  ran  over  in  her  mind  the  list  of  men  who 
had  wished  to  marry  her:  true  hearts  were  anionu' 
them,  that  she  knew,  hut  they  had  never  touched 
her  with  aught  hut  uneasiness.  Among  them 
\  andvke  towered  like  a  king1. 

Fi-oni  them  she  had  always  turned  away  toward 
her  ideal  of  the  professional  life.  .Before  him  that" 
ideal  hesitated,  shrank.  Could  her  voiee  express 
to  him  a  tithe  of  the  nameless,  unutterable  things 
that  he  had  brought  to  her  consciousness  and  that 
made  lite  the  heavenly  tiling  it  was.  its  gi!i  would 
not  be  hidden. 

All  the  world,  from  the  far-reaching  vault  of  the 
firmament  to  the  tiniest  wave-kissed  pebble  below 
her.  held  a  promise  for  her  now. —  the  portent  of 
great  Li'ood,  \\  hen  would  he  come  '!  \\  here  should 
she  iirst  meet  him  7  \\  here  would  thev  be  when 
-  he  - 

Mrs.  Darling  had  been  here  several  days  ago 
and  had  told  Althea  that  it  would  not  be  long  be 
fore  he  arrived.  She.  Margaret,  must  call  at 
Spindrift  before  lie  came.  \\liy  not  now.  this 
very  afternoon  '.'  It  would  be  uns;;te  to  postpone. 

Althea  was  away  somewhere.  All  the  better. 
Margaret  was  in  the  mood  to  have  no  companion 
but  Nature.  She  would  ;  ike  a  bri>h  gallop  to  h  -r 
Cousin's  cottage  and  be  back"  by  tea-time. 

As  she  went  into  the  house.  Miss   ]>eebe  on  the 


THE   BETRAYAL  241 

piazza  called  to  her,  "  That  you,  Margaret  ? 
Where  are  you  off  to  now?  " 

The  girl  came  and  leaned  her  arms  on  the  back 
of  a  chair,  her  look  still  far  away  among  those 
dreams  that  had  come  to  be  life's  most  substantial 
reality. 

"  I  thought  I  would  ride  over  to  Mrs.  Darling's 
a  little  while." 

Miss  Luella  scrutinized  her  appreciatively. 
"  Seems  's  if  I  'd  hardly  seen  you  since  I  came 
here,  Margaret.  You  don't  look  like  the  girl 
you  were  when  I  talked  to  you  last  in  Boston. 
You  were  n't  rinding  life  so  interesting  then  as 
you  do  now,  seems  to  me." 

"  Is  life  ever  so  interesting  as  it  is  here  ?  "  re 
turned  Margaret. 

"  Nice  place  ;  and  it  would  do  you  good,  I  think, 
to  fling  all  care  to  the  winds  while  you  are  here." 

"  Why,  I  do." 

"  Xot  if  you  feel  obliged  to  make  calls  on  Mrs. 
Darling,"  said  Miss  Beebe  bluntly. 

Margaret  raised  her  eyebrows.  "  She  is  alone 
now.  Later  she  will  be  surrounded  with  guests." 

"  Yes,  and  I  know  Mr.  Vandyke  is  going  to  be 
one  of  them.  She  's  silly  about  him,"  said  Miss 
Luella  intrepidly.  "  I  've  seen  it." 

So  had  Margaret  many  a  time,  with  a  fastidious 
shrinking  which  had  in  it  no  tinge  of  jealousy. 

"  I  tell  you,  Margaret  Carruth,  it 's  the  short- 
sightedest  thing  a  woman  can  do  to  marry  a  man 


ii'  she  finds  out  e\eii  at  the  eleventh  hour  that  she 
isn't  wholly  happy  in  the  thought  of  it.  Talk 
about  broken  promises  and  honor,  and  all  the  rest 
ot  it!  Miss  Beelie's  voice  e.\])i'essed  \a-t  scorn. 
'•  Look  at  Molly  Darling.  She  did  that  tiling,  as 
I  hap])en  to  know:  and  dearly  her  hnsliand  has 
had  to  pay  for  that  hardly  kept  promise." 

••  \\  hv.  mother  tiever  told  me  this."  slid  Mar 
garet,  wondering.  "Did  siie  ask  to  lie  n  leased, 
and  did  Cousin  Henry  refuse  to  release  her?" 

••  Indeed  she  did  not.  Mi'.  Darling  svas  a  rieh 
man  th<-n.  and  she  wanted  to  marry  him  in  -jute 
of  the  fact  that  he  liored  her." 

•-  lie  loves  her  still.'  said  Margaret.  ••  and  1 
suppose  uv  should  not  criticise  her.  At  the  sime 
time  her  thoughts  reverted  to  yesterday,  when  she 
had  met  Molly  Darling  walking  with  a  man  t'riend. 
a  mutual  ac(|ua'.ntance.  named  Badger.  \\hnm  Mar 
garet  heartily  disapproved.  Her  family  pride  had 
been  afflicted  by  the  familiar  altitude  this  person 
was  taking  with  her  cousin  s  wile,  and  the  pleased 
coquetry  of  her  responses.  .For  Hie  first  time  in 
her  life  she  had  determined  to  speak  to  Mrs.  Dar- 
IniL;1  and  lie;.;1  her  not  to  lie  too  gracious  to  this 
man. 

••  I  know  von  and  your  mother  have  persevered 
in  a  wise  silence,"  returned  Miss  Heche;  "lint 
down  here,  where  a  body  can  breathe,  it  seems  as 
if  freedom  of  speech  ought  io  come  in  too." 

••  Cousin  Henry  is  such  a  good  man."  said  Mar- 


THE   BETRAYAL  243 

garet  gently.  "  It  seems  as  if  she  must  tire  of 
most  of  these  friends  of  hers  and  eome  to  enjoy  his 
companionship  more." 

"  Bnt  what  I  say  is,"  declared  Miss  Beebe  vig 
orously,  "  she  did  him  a  wrong  to  marry  him." 

k-  Of  course  ;  if  any  woman  marries  a  man  for 
his  money,  she  does  him  a  wrong." 

u  Yes ;  but  my  point  is  that  even  if  he  had  n't 
been  well  off,  and  she  had  married  him  simply  to 
keep  a  promise,  she  would  n't  have  been  doing  the 
highly  virtuous  thing  that  people  usually  consider 
it.  It 's  never  too  late  to  mend  until  the  nuptial 
knot  is  tied,  according  to  my  theory.  Dead  prom 
ises  should  n't  be  considered  any  more  than  the 
withered  leaves  that  fly  around  in  autumn.  It  is 
too  dangerous,  too  dangerous." 

"  AVhat  a  radical  you  are !  "  exclaimed  Mar 
garet,  the  irrepressible  fountain  of  happiness  in 
her  heart  sending  its  sparkling  light  up  into  her 
eyes  as  she  smiled.  "  You  make  me  afraid  of  my 
own  opinions  when  I  hear  them  stated  so  ex 
tremely." 

"  You  hold  that  opinion  too,  then  ? "  Miss 
Beebe  looked  interested. 

"  Yes.  It  is  comparatively  easy  to  hold  it  from 
the  woman's  standpoint,  though.  When  a  woman 
gives  up  a  man,  even  if  the  world  says  she  jilts  him, 
public  opinion  is  not  hard  on  her ;  but  if  a  man 
breaks  his  compact  with  a  woman,  he  is  considered 
dishonored. " 


244 

•-"Well."  said  Miss  Luella,  "you  see.  he  </;<!,•< J 
the  woman. 

••  Certainly  :   Imt  she  promised  him. 

"  I  know.  I  m  rather  inclined  myself  to  think 
it's  as  broad  as  it  is  long.  All  the  same.  !  "d  hate 
to  have  my  brother  make  a  woman  love  him.  ask 
her  to  marry  him.  and  then  find  out  he'd  made  a 
mistake.  When  they  do.  it  's  generally  that  they 
find  they  like  some  other  woman  better." 

••  Yes."  said  Margaret,  with  a  nod  of  decision, 
••  and  I  have  always  held  that  that  \\as  good  and 
sufficient  reason  for  breaking  a  mau">  engagement. 
Anything  else  seems  to  me  a  short-slight"!!  and 
false  sense  of  honor. 

"  Well,  you  "ve  got  good  courage.  I  guess  if  it 
Avas  your  own  brother,  you  d  weaken  out  ot  that 
conviction. 

••  No,  '  said  Margaret  with  firmness.  ••  I  would 
stand  by  him.  1  would  encourage'  him.  It  the 
other  woman  would  have  him.  I  should  help  on 
the1  match.  .If  society  looked  askance  at  him.it 
shoulel  look  askance  at  me'. 

Miss  Heche  shook  her  head  doubtfully.  "  It 
sounds  like  an  easy,  selfish  good  time  you  re  plan 
ning  out  for  that  brother  of  yours. 

Miss  Carrutli  smiled.  "  Where  have  your  prin 
ciples  lied  to.  I  should  like'  to  kmnv  '.' 

"Take  care'.  Margaret."  said  Miss  Beel>0  cau 
tiously.  "  Principle,  and  good  times  don  f  yeryolten 
go  to!rether," 


THE    BETRAYAL  245 

The  girl  laughed.  "O  Miss  Luella,  it  is  easy 
enougii  to  trace  your  ancestry.  I  believe  the 
Puritans  refrained  from  eating'  pie  just  because 
they  liked  it." 

"  "Well,  yon  know  there  's  a  general  feeling  that 
when  it 's  the  man  who  has  made  the  mistake,  he 
ought  to  go  through  with  it.  Men  aren't  so  good 
as  women,  of  course,"  added  Miss  Beebe  naVvely, 
"  or  there  would  n't  be  laws  made  about  breach  of 
promise  cases." 

"  Oh,"  Margaret's  lips  curled  slightly,  "  we  are 
not  talking  about  that  sort  of  people.  It  happens 
sometimes  to  a  loyal,  well-balanced,  honorable  man 
that  he  gets  into  an  engagement  with  the  wrong 
woman." 

"  And  for  her  he  is  the  right  man,"  put  in  Miss 
Beebe. 

"  Granted.  There  must  be  a  hurt  somewhere. 
The  question  is,  does  n't  mother's  favorite  rule 
apply,  and  should  n't  the  effort  be  to  bring  about 
the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number  ?  " 

"  You  mean  that  the  man,  having  proceeded  to 
fall  in  love  with  the  right  woman,  should  marry 
her  regardless  of  obstacles,  so  that  two  out  of  three 
instead  of  one  out  of  three,  should  be  happy." 

"  Not  only  that,"  said  Margaret  gravely  ;  "there 
are  the  children  to  be  considered.  I  know  chil 
dren  —  of  the  rich  too  —  who  are  like  plants  in  a 
dark  cellar,  because  the  sunshine  of  love  is  n't  all 
about  them." 


24G 

••  Vv  1-11.  if  you  are  going  on  io  the  next  genera- 
tion.  you  have  thought  this  out." 

••  It  is  a  way  I  have  if  a  subject  conies  to  my 
mind  at  all.  I  oiten  think  ho\v  different  niv  life 
ami  inheritance  would  liave  been  if  father  and 
mother  had  not  been  so  devoted  to  each  other. 
You  remember  father's  ways  with  mother?" 

Miss  Heche's  eves  fell  awav  from  the  clear  ones 
regard  in  LI;  her.  "Oh.  ves  indeed,  ves  indeed." -he 
replied  hastily. 

••  Tlien  beside,  if  marriage  is  marriage  at  all.  it 
is  a  spiritual  tiling."  said  Margaret.  "\\'h"rc  is 


one  when  the  whole  real  >cli  ol  you  ^oes  out  to 
another'.''  \\  hat  a  strange,  distorted  thing  it  is  to 
call  that  honor,  goodness,  truth,  generosity,  and 
ail  the  other  terms  that  people  are  \\illing  to 
a|>])lv  to  such  an  act.  it  the\"  happen  to  discover 
that  any  man  in  fiction  or  in  fact  is  denying  him 
self  and  fulfilling  his  outgrown  compact!  I  may 
stand  alone  in  my  theory,  !  know  it  is  unpopular 
enough,  but  1  should  honor  the  man  who  had 
courage  to  decline  at  all  risks  to  perjure  himself, 
just  as  much  as  I  should  the  woman  who  refused 
to  marry  except  for  love. 

Mi>s  Iieebe  ga/ed  fascinated  at  the  illumined, 
expressive  face. 

"•  You  're  at  a  very  interesting  stage  of  life,  my 
dear."  she  said  at  last,  •*  the  time  when  all  theo 
ries  seem  practical. 


THE    BETRAYAL  247 

"  I  have  an  idea  that  I  shall  not  change  my 
mind." 

'•  Wo  all  had  that  idea  once,"  returned  Miss 
Beebe. 

Margaret,  smiling,  straightened  herself.  "  Well, 
I  must  get  down  from  my  hobby  and  mount  my 
horse,  or  I  shall  not  get  back  from  Mrs.  Darling's 
in  time  for  tea,"  she  said,  and  went  into  the  house 
to  put  on  her  habit. 

As  it  happened,  her  choice  of  a  day  was  not  a 
good  one  for  visiting  Mrs.  Darling.  That  lady 
had  in  the  morning  received  a  letter  from  Van 
dyke  which  disappointed  and  angered  her. 

He  had  written  that  his  hopes  for  a  connected 
vacation  were  becoming  very  dim  ;  that  lie  should 
hope  to  run  down  to  see  his  friends  at  Crest  View 
before  the  season  was  over.  It  would  be  a  cool 
ing  and  comfortable  sensation  to  be  able  to  place 
them  in  their  summer  homes  and  to  think  of  them 
when  the  thermometer  was  at  its  height,  but  there 
was  no  prospect  now  that  he  could  make  such  a 
visit  as  Mrs.  Darling  had  kindly  proposed. 

"  This  is  the  Carruths'  doing !  "  she  thought 
hotly.  She  had  dwelt  on  Althea's  picture  of  the 
parting  in  the  train,  and  pondered  upon  the  girl's 
gratuitous  hints  of  Mrs.  Carruth's  liking  for  Van 
dyke,  until  she  had  built  up  a  supposititious  con 
dition  of  things  to  which  this  note  gave  the  finish 
ing  touch. 

She    was    bitterly,    painfully    jealous    of   Mar- 


garet  Carrutli.  \\  hat  a  lot  was  hers  !  And  >he 
t'oroaw  a  future  where  \  andvke  >tood  li\  ihe 
twirl's  side  in  a  life  crowned  by  all  the  prosperiu 
in  this  worlds  gilt.  ()nlv  now  she  discovered 
that  tins  expected  visit  had  been  the  jtivot  on 
which  her  summer  turned.  The  pleasure  of  being 
\andvl\es  hostess,  ot  planning  lu>  actions,  of 
driving  witli  him  to  ('hli'  Nest  and  letting  the 
('arruths  see  their  excellent  comradeship,  of  ^ning 
\\iih  him  to  the  assemblies  at  the  adjacent  ia.-h- 
ionable  hotel:  in  short,  of  owning  his  escort  for  a 
fort  uiu'iit  in  the  face  and  eves  of  tln»e  who  would 
thus  be  forced  to  acknowledge  the  scope  of  her 
fascination.  tins  had  been  her  dear  de-ire  :  and 
it  had  been  brought  low  by  what'.'  Doubtless  by 
i  he  influence  of  the  (.'arruths.  whose  j-.trong.  <|inet 
siij)rem;icv  she  was  forced  to  acknowledge  with  a 
ri'viitmeiit  which  was  burning  Hereelv  at  the  mo- 
jnent  when  Margaret  jumped  lightlv  down  at  her 
door. 

Mrs.  Darling  i-ecogni/ed  her  \\ilh  a  leap  of  the 
heart.  Knowing  her  own  excitement,  she  sum 
moned  all  her  self-control.  Angry  a>  she  was.  to 
quarrel  with  Miss  Carrutli  would  be  an  impolitic 
act.  far-reaching  in  its  consequences.  Like  a  flash 
(here  came  into  her  mind  a  ma\nu  quoted  to  her 
bv  her  husband  in  one  of  his  rare  and  gentle  pro 
tests  against'  her  reckless  speeches  : 


THE    BETUAYAL  249 

Here  Margaret  caught  sight  of  her  through 
the  window  and  hastened  in  at  the  open  door. 
How  happy  she  looked  !  Happiness  is  a  beauti- 
fier,  and  in  a  face  like  Margaret's,  where  expres 
sion  is  so  varying  and  powerful  as  at  times  to  be 
transfiguring,  it  was  a  power  indeed.  Its  elo 
quence  did  not  soothe  her  hostess,  who  instantly 
wondered  if  this  gladness  might  not  proceed  from 
a  letter  different  in  purport  from  that  which  lay 
on  the  table  near  her. 

"How  does  it  happen  that  you  are  not  out  on 
the  piazza?"  asked  the  girl.  "  The  day  is  per 
fect." 

"  I  know.  I  have  a  headache  —  slight,  it  will 
pass.  Sit  down." 

u  I  see  you  are  not  yourself.  Too  bad  !  Ills 
of  the  flesh  should  not  pursue  us  here.  It  is  well 
that  it  happens  that  you  have  not  the  responsibil 
ity  of  a  guest  just  now." 

Airs.  Darling's  suspicious  ear  thought  she  de 
tected  a  note  of  exultation  in  the  speech.  "  Yes," 
she  replied,  in  a  measured  way.  "  I  had  expected 
Mr.  Vandyke  might  be  here  by  this  time." 

"  Oh,  I  did  n't  know  it  was  so  soon." 

"  Perhaps  you  have  learned  of  some  change  in 
his  plan." 

"  1?  No."  Margaret  could  not  help  it:  a  rich 
tide  of  color  turned  even  her  brow  rosy,  and  Mrs. 
Darling's  gaze  devoured  her. 

"  Her    mother    has     written     him,    then,"    she 


fhoughl  swiftly,  -\\here  is  Miss  (iavlord  to 
day?"  she  asked. 

••  !  think  she  went  sailing  with  one  of  the  ii-h- 
ermen.  She  knows  them  all  better  in  a  fortnight 
i  ha:i  1  ha  v*e  come  to  do  in  years." 

Such  rich  content  spoke  in  llic  girl's  l>ri;>,ht 
tone.  Such  gifts  were  her.-.  it  seemed  unjust 
that  he;;;!!),  a  clear  conscience,  and  the  love  of 
such  a  in:;n  sliould  'te  liea|)ed  upon  tlie  pressed- 
down  measure  of  her  lieneiil  s  ! 

••How  are  voiir  plans  for  the  stage  prepress- 
ing v "  asked  Mrs.  Darling  suddenly. 

Margaret's  face  sobered.  ••  \\  hat  do  von 
mean  '.'  " 

••()h.  i  •;  n  t  it  a  little  unnecessavv  to  l>e  so  elo.^e- 
niouihed  with  me?  It  is  eonimon  talk  in  Iioston 
that  you  enter  the  profession  o!  a  singer  in  the 
autumn.  ' 

••  I  should  think  yon  would  know  that  common 
talk  is  often  wrong. 

"•  Yon  can  tell  me."  said  Mrs.  Darling,  with  a 
certain  hardness  of  manner  that  was  foreign  to 
her  light  ways,  and  surprised  the  visitor.  ••  You 
need  not  l>e  afraid  I  shall  talk.  ^  on  told  me 
yourself  long  ago  that  it  was  your  amUition. 

'•  It  was,"  said  Margaret,  hesitating. 

••Has  it  ceased  to  lie?  asked  the  hostess 
sharply.  "That  is  strange,  alter  your  success  of 
St.  Timothy's.  One  mi'_ht  guess  that  somebody 
had  turned  your  thoughts  toward  a  domestic  life." 


THE    BETRAYAL  251 

The  girl  bit  her  lip.  A  rough  hand  seemed 
knocking1  at  the  door  of  her  inmost  reserve. 

"Mother  and  I  have  had  a  talk  about  it,"  she 
replied  after  an  instant,  with  quiet  dignity.  "  We 
have  suspended  a  conclusion." 

'•  I  see,  until  —  until  what  ?  "  Mrs.  Darling 
gave  a  hard  laugh,  exulting  in  the  success  with 
which,  she  had  sent  the;  genial  light  out  of  the  eyes 
regarding  her,  and  summoned  a  shrinking,  star 
tled  look  in  its  place  ;  but  Margaret  gathered  her 
forces. 

'•  Until  the  working  season  begins  again.  I 
shall  be  helped  to  see  what  to  do  by  the  way 
opportunities  open." 

'•  I  understand.  Well,  good  luck  follows  you. 
You  were  born  with  the  golden  spoon  in  your 
mouth.  Heigho  !  mine  was  pewter." 

"  No  indeed,  Cousin  Molly/'  The  girl  spoke 
gently.  She  saw  that  her  hostess  was  under  some 
strain.  Even  if  it  were  only  that  of  ennui,  the 
result  was  lamentable.  It  was  rare  that  Mrs. 
Darling  heard  the  cousinly  address,  but  instead  of 
being  pleased,  she  suspected  the  compassion  of  a 
successful  rival. 

"  You  must  n't  say  that,"  went  on  Margaret. 
"  Your  path  looks  rosy  to  an  outsider,  though  you 
may  see  thorns,  and  you  have  the  dearest  husband 
in  the  world." 

Mrs.  Darling  bit  her  lip.  She  took  this  refer 
ence  as  a  reproof.  "  Really,"  she  said,  smiling, 


"  I  think  I  ought  to  lend  Henry  to  the  Carruths. 
They  appreciate  his  virtues  so  highly. 

Margaret  smiled  too.  good-temperedly.  and  arose. 
"As  he  is  n  t  here,  lend  us  yourself,  won't  you? 
Can't  yon  be  more  neighborly  ?  You  have  called 
at  Cliff  Nest  only  once." 

••  Yes,  I  '11  come  soon.  Fred  Badger  wants  me 
to  try  some  new  horses  of  his  to-morrow.  \Ve 
may  as  well  come  to  your  house  as  am  where. 

Miss  Carruth  stiffened  at  the  name.  She 
dreaded  to  express  her  feelings,  but  she  summoned 
her  moral  courage.  ••  I  m  sorry  to  say  it.  Cousin 
Molly,  but  I  don't  like  Mr.  J>adger.  Please  come 
without  him.' 

-  Oh,  you  don't  like  Mr.  Badger  ?  "  Mrs.  Dar 
ling's  breath  began  to  come  with  difficulty. 
"  \\  by.  pray?  Are  not  my  friends  good  enough 
for  you  ? 

"He  isn't  a  good  man.  Cousin  Molly."  The 
girl  spoke  deprecating!}'.  "And  lie  is  n't  a  man 
to  whom  we  can  do  any  good. 

Mrs.  Darling's  nostrils  were  dilating  with  her 
effort  at  controlling  the  hysterical  breathing  as  she 
stood  looking  hard  into  her  visitor's  soft  eyes. 
This  was  Margaret's  chance  to  carry  out  her  de 
termination.  It  was  very  difficult,  but  she  had 
always  had  a  certain  influence  with  Mrs.  Darling, 
and  so  good  an  opportunity  would  not  occur 
again. 

"  I    saw  you  with  him   yesterday.     I  could  n't 


THE   BETRAYAL  253 

bear  to  see  his  open  admiration.  It  is  n't  compli 
mentary  to  your  husband  to  let  such  a  man  look 
—  look  closely  at  you." 

Mrs.  Darling  gasped  and  laughed.  This  girl  in 
her  arrogance,  for  whom  the  cream  of  life  rose, 
ready  for  her  fastidious  acceptance,  dared  criticise 
her,  reprove  her  !  All  the  cumulative  resentment 
of  the  day  flared  to  a  blaze  of  jealous  hatred, 
whose  only  hope  of  satisfaction  lay  in  dragging 
Margaret  from  her  pedestal  and  seeing  her  writhe 
in  the  dust. 

The  laugh  died.  "  By  what  right  do  you  dare 
dictate,  or  even  suggest  to  me  as  to  my  friends  ?  " 

The  baleful  fire  in  the  speaker's  eye,  the  white 
rage  in  her  face,  appalled  Margaret,  but  she  did 
not  quail.  "  Only  the  right  of  relationship.  Only 
that  your  husband  is  my  cousin,"  she  answered, 
the  calm  and  dignity  of  her  bearing  undisturbed. 

Some  foreign  power  inside  Mrs.  Darling  seemed 
suddenly  to  possess  her.  She  lost  all  self-control. 

"  You  are  not,"  she  retorted  savagely,  "  you 
are  not  his  cousin !  You  are  not  a  Carruth  at 
all !  " 

"  Poor  girl !  "  said  Margaret,  laying  her  hand 
on  the  other's  ann.  "  Lie  down,  lie  down  on  the 
divan.  You  are  really  ill." 

Mrs.  Darling  shook  her  arm  free  and  laughed. 

"  I  never  was  better.  You  are  not  a  Carruth. 
People  don't  know  who  you  are,  but  they  know 
that  much.  Common  talk  is  right  for  once.  Mrs. 


CniTiitli's  position  tics  people's  tongues,  hut  not 
their  t  honghts." 

The  anxious  ga/e  in  the  girls  eves  changed 
slowlv  to  incredulity,  perplexity,  thru  to  a  lilank 
slare.  while  she  stood  immovable,  the  iolds  oi  her 
riding  -  habit  falling  about  her.  Mrs.  Darling 
gloated  over  the  transformation.  Only  when  a 
white,  stiff  change  came  and  altered  the  \  onng 
countenance  until  no  one  would  have  recognized 
it  as  Lelonging  to  the  girl  who  entered  tin1  room 
a  little  while  ago.  did  her  sweet  revn^v  bes/in  to 
seem  dearlv  bought. 

"Say  that  again!  '  said  Margaret  at  last, 
hoarselv.  ••  I  don  t  understand. 

Mrs.  Darling  shrugged  her  shoulders,  braying 
the  chill  that  had  begun  to  follow  her  heat. 
'•  It  s  a  fact.  ^  on  have  no  right  to  Henry  or  to 
any  of  the  Carruths.  You  were  —she  smiled 
insolentlv.  "  I  suppose  Mrs.  C'arruth  knows  what 
yon  were.  I  don't." 


CHAPTER   XVII 

MOTHER    A.ND    CHILD 

IN  the  silence  that  followed,  Mrs.  Darling's 
sated  anger  changed  in  spite  of  herself  to  tardy 
regret  and  fear.  Margaret's  starting  eyes  were 
terrible  to  her  in  the  unseeing  expression  which 
came  into  them.  Unable  longer  to  bear  the  still 
ness,  she  broke  it. 

"  I  have  given  you  a  shock,"  she  said,  trying  to 
speak  hardily,  "  but  you  forced  me  into  it.  I  had 
better  go  home  with  you." 

The  girl's  eyes  focused  again  upon  her  hostess 
with  a  look  of  shrinking  and  horror  hard  to  sus 
tain.  "  No,"  she  said  softly,  but  with  such  repug 
nance  that  Mrs.  Darling  stood  mute  while  Mar 
garet  turned  and  with  slow  steps  seemed  to  grope 
her  way  from  the  room. 

She  passed  out  the  house-door,  across  the  piazza, 
and  down  the  steps.  Her  horse  whinnied  at  her 
approach.  She  looked  at  him  strangely.  He  be 
longed  to  the  Carruth  household.  He  was  none 
of  hers,  —  foolish  creature,  with  the  expressive, 
affectionate  eyes,  gazing  at  her  as  he  pawed  the 
sandy  soil.  He  would  have  to  know  it  in  time. 
Perhaps  he  did  know  it  now,  and  was  keeping  it 
from  her  like  all  the  rest. 


When  next  she  was  conscious  of  consecutive 
thought,  she  was  halfway  home,  the  horse  Itcncath 
her  hastening  at  Ids  best  speed  to  his  supper, 
unguided. 

One  consideration  came  to  her  with  a  throb,  — 
a  gleam  of  relief  amid   black  clouds  of  shame  and 
dishonor. 

•'  My  voice.  It  does  not  belong  to  the  Car- 
ruths,  and  the  world  is  wide." 

She  held  her  stunned  and  straying  mind  to  this 
idea  while  the  muffled  thud  of  her  horse's  hoofs 
beat  steadily  on  the  soft  ground.  At  last  he  can 
tered  into  the  domain  of  Cliff  Nest.  The  sky.  the 
sea,  the  rocks,  the  trees,  were  cruelly,  deceit  full  v 
similar  to  those  she  had  left  in  that  other  state  of 
life  when  she  was  Margaret  Carruth.  sovereign  of 
happiness.  Now  she  was  a  clod,  a  stumbling, 
aimless,  nameless  thing  that  must  go  on  living. 
The  horse  would  stop  in  a  minute,  then  what 
should  she  do  ? 

A  bright  voice  sounded  from  the  piazza,  —  a 
voice  from  the  world  she  used  to  live  in:  Althea's, 
gay,  reproachful.  It  seemed  for  an  instant  to 
rally  her  unstrung  nerves  into  order. 

"  You  runaway  !  Are  n't  you  ashamed  to  steal 
such  a  march  on  me  ?  "  The  girl  ran  to  meet  her, 
her  face  full  of  welcome. 

Margaret  slipped  from  her  horse,  and  Althea, 
as  she  affectionately  seized  her  gloved  hands,  started 
at  the  staring  eyes  and  pale  face  that  met  her. 


MOTHER   AND    CHILD  2oi 

"  What 's  the  matter  ?  You  have  had  a  sun 
stroke?  What?" 

"  No  ;  I  'm  only  not  a  Carruth.  That  is  all." 
Margaret  passed  her  hand  over  her  eyes.  "  If 
there  were  any  way  of  my  being'  alone  with  you, 
Althea,  perhaps  I  shouldn't  go  mad  trying  to 
think." 

Poor  Althea  nearly  fainted  in  her  vague  terror, 
but  love  made  her  heroic. 

"  Tea  is  just  ready,"  she  answered.  "  Go  up  to 
your  room,  and  I  will  arrange  it  and  be  with  you 
soon." 

Then,  her  knees  quaking  under  her,  the  young 
girl  went  to  the  dining-room,  where  Mrs.  Carruth 
and  Miss  Beebe  were  already  seated. 

"  I  just  saw  Margaret  ride  in,"  said  Mrs.  Car 
ruth,  looking  up.  "  Althea,  won't  you  ask  her 
not  to  mind  waiting  to  change  her  habit  ?  It 
would  be  so  much  more  sociable  to  come  in  just  as 
she  is." 

"  We  want  a  favor,"  said  Althea.  And  if  her 
usual  deliberate  tone  was  a  little  unsteady,  the 
others  did  not  notice  it.  "  May  I  take  some  tea 
upstairs  for  Magnet  and  me?  We  have  some 
important  matters  to  discuss." 

Mrs.  Carruth  looked  surprised.  "  Won't  they 
keep  one  hour  ? "  she  began ;  but  Miss  Beebe 
interrupted. 

"  I  wonder  if  Mr.  Vandyke  has  n't  come  to  Mrs. 
Darling's?"  she  inqiiired,  looking  at  Althea. 


••  I  don't  know.  I  don't  know  what  Magnet  has 
to  tell  inc. 

••There!  Let  "cm  go  !  "  laughed  Mi>s  I>ee!>e. 
k>  (Jirls  \\i!l  he  girls." 

And  Mrs.  (  'arrntli.  iniiidi'iil  of  past  eoiiinients 
on  Margaret's  lack  of  girlish  privileges,  agreed 
reluctantly.  She  did  not  sec  nnicli  ^ense  in  the 
arrangement,  and  she  liked  utility. 

Alrhea.  with  a  tremhling  heart,  approached  her 
friends  door  and  knocked.  The  fact  that  there 
was  no  answer  dismayed  her  still  further:  1-nt 
overcoming  her  dread,  she  opened  the  door  and 
entered.  Margaret  was  sitting  there  in  her  haliit. 
staring  into  vacancy. 

She  looked  up  at  Althea's  entrance,  and  watched 
her  while  she  arranged  the  tca-trav  on  a  little 
talile.  The  girl  had  declined  to  let  a  servant 
assist  her. 

"•  I  m  glad  yon  are  here,  '  said  Margaret,  ap 
proaching  her  friend  as  she  caught  her  eye,  and 
smiling  strangely  as  she  put  an  arm  around  her. 
••  ^  on  are  not  a  (/arrni  h  eit  her. 

'•  A\  IP,',  what  do  von  mean  l»v  that.  Magnet  dar 
ling  V  "  asked  Althea.  ••  \\\\\  wait  :  you  frighten 
me  l»y  looking  so  ill.  Drink  a  cup  of  this  tea. 
and  afterwards  we  will  talk." 

-That   tea?     Oh.   no.      I   have   no   right   to  it, 
yon  know.       I    have   no    right    to   anything  here 
except"    -  lowering  her  voice  —  ••  a  shameful  one. 
Poor    Mr.    Carruth !       sighing.      ••  Mo   wonder   ho 


MOT II Kit    AND    CHILI)  259 

"•  Conic  here,  Magnet."  Althea  spoke  firmly, 
and  led  her  to  a  wicker  divan.  Drawing  her 
down,  she  held  her  hands  tightly.  "  Look  straight 
into  my  eyes.  I  understand  at  last  that  Mrs. 
Darling  has  been  talking  to  yon.  Do  yon  know 
that  she  hates  yon?  Hates  yon  chiefly  on  account 
of  Mr.  Vandyke.  She  is  jealous  of  yon." 

4w  Oh,  no.  AVhy  should  she  be  ?  She  has  known 
all  the  time  that  she  could  stab  me  when  the  time 
came.  It  is  common  talk.  Everybody  knows  it. 
I  suppose  you  have  known  it  all  along." 

kk  Known  what  ?  " 

"  That  I  am  not  a  Carruth." 

"  What  nonsense !  I  never  heard  of  such  a 
thing  !  I  don't  believe  it !  " 

"  Why,  that  makes  me  still  gladder  yon  are 
here."  Margaret  smiled  again  in  the  way  that, 
for  all  its  gentleness,  made  a  chill  creep  over 
her  companion.  "  AVe  learn  of  it  together.  I  have 
a  real  friend.  How  much  that  means  to  a  girl  who 
has  lost  all :  a  shelter,  clothing,  food,  and  "  —  in  a 
frightened  whisper  —  "a  name.  I  have  no  name, 
Althea." 

"  My  sweetheart,  it 's  false !  "  A  sob  rose  in 
the  girl's  throat.  "  Mrs.  Darling  has  lied  to  you. 
Be  sure  of  it.  She  must  have  been  mad  with 
rage,  —  she  who  is  always  so  politic.  Let  me  call 
your  mother  " 

"  No  !  "  The  exclamation  was  so  sudden  that 
Althea  started,  and  Margaret  went  on  deliberately. 


A    UliKAT   LQVK 

'•  Xever  again  in  this  world  will  1  see  her  who 
should  not  have  been  my  mother.  She  could  not 
now  support  the  sight  of  me  any  more  than  J  could 
bear  to  sec  her." 

••Margaret  Can-nth,  yon  ama/.e  me!  Poor 
girl  !  with  a  change  of  tone.  *•  That  wicked 
v,onmn  has  half-cra/ed  yon.  or  yon  would  not  lie 
so  ungrateful.  Do  you  mean  to  say  you  are  so 
(jiiick  to  believe  a  jealous,  frantic  creature  like 
Mrs.  Diirling,  that  yon  will  not  eyeii  hear  your 
mother's  explanation?"  Althea  took  her  com 
panion  in  her  arms  and  drew  her  head  against  her 
own  cheek.  ••  Shut  your  eyes.  dear,  and  think  of 
your  mother's  face.  Think  of  her  tair  brow,  with 
those  clear  eyes  looking  out  on  all  the  world  to  do 
good.  Think  of  her  directness  and  honesty  and 
power.  Think  of  the  respect  felt  for  her.  the 
universal  deference  to  her  wisdom  ;  her  lofty  aims 
and  her  beautiful  life. 

Margaret  passed  her  hand  over  her  eyes  con 
fusedly.  "  She  has  deceived  me."  she  said. 

"•  Mrs.  Darling  has  deceived  you  worse,  lie  sure 
of  it.  ()  Magnet!  when  I  think  of  your  suffer 
ing  the  last  hour,  and  how  you  have  credited  llie 
worst  that  woman  could  concoct.  I  want  to —  but 
she  will  be  punished.  Now.  don't  disappoint  me. 
^  ou  have  been  my  ideal  so  long.  I>e  strong  and 
sensible  and  generous.  Whatever  fire  there  is 
under  all  this  foul  smoke,  we  "11  find  it,  never 
fear;  but  you  must  get  back  your  self -control. 


MOTHER    A  XI)    CHILD  2G1 

I  will  make  some  fresh  tea,  and  you  must  drink 
it." 

Margaret  leaned  back  exhausted,  and  followed 
her  with  her  eyes  as  she  went  to  the  kettle.  When 
the  tea  was  brought  she  drank  some  ;  and  mean 
while  Althea's  thoughts  flew  fast.  She  shrank 
inexpressibly  from  inflicting  such  pain  upon  Mrs. 
Carruth  as  would  result  from  bringing  her  here 
now,  even  if  Margaret  would  consent  to  see  her. 

"  1  think  I  will  go  to  Boston  to-night,"  said 
Margaret  suddenly,  setting  her  cup  down  beside 
her. 

"  To  whom,  Magnet  ?  "  asked  her  friend  in  dis 
may. 

"  To  Willard.  lie  is  not  a  Carruth,  and  I  be 
lieve  he  will  be  a  friend  to  me  still,  and  help  me 
to  plan." 

Althea's  heart  fluttered  fast,  but  she  controlled 
herself.  "  Very  well,"  she  said  quietly.  "  Of 
course  I  shall  go  with  you  when  you  go  ;  but  you 
are  not  reasoning  sensibly,  Magnet.  You  are  too 
ignorant  of  facts.  I  have  seen  Mrs.  Darling  in 
hysterics.  I  know  how  excitable  she  is,  and  how 
angry  she  can  grow." 

As  she  paused,  mute  in  her  puzzle,  a  ray  of 
light  suddenly  came  to  the  girl's  distressed  brain. 
A  face,  small,  alert,  with  ever-inquiring  eye 
glasses,  dawned  upon  her  problem  like  the  vision 
of  a  deliverer. 

"  My   dear,    wait !  "    she   said   suddenly.     "  If 


there  is  any  truth  in  what  you  have  heard,  and 
that  there  has  been  talk  about  it.  Miss  Beebe  will 
know  all  that  any  one  does.  It  would  be  wild  for 
YOU  to  go  to  Boston  without  understanding  the 
situation.  Let  me  bring  Mis-;  Beebe  to  you. 

••('an  you  manage  not  to  li-t  -  any  one  else 
know? 

••  I  m  sure  I  can.  said  Althea.  relieved  by  the 
tacit  consent.  She  moved  to  the  door  \\ith  alac 
rity.  "I  will  send  her  to  you  and  come  back 
when  she  has  gone. 

••  No.  you  must  be  here.  It  would  n  t  be  fair 
to  von  to  let  yon  go  on  as  my  friend  in  igno 
rance.  ' 

Althea  looked  back  reproachfully  :  but  the  rigid 
face  and  wide  eves  warned  her  to  let  minor  con 
siderations  drop.  She  ran  downstairs  and  put  her 
head  into  the  dining-room. 

k-.Miss  Beehe.  can  I  see  yon  when  yon  have 
finished  tea?  she  asked. 

Mrs.  Carruth  looked  over  her  shoulder.  ••  ^  on 
and  Margaret  have  made  quick  work,  she  re 
marked. 

••  We  are  not  through  yet.  but  a  question  has 
come  n])  —  a  dispute  that  we  want  Miss  .Beehe  to 
settle." 

The  latter  looked  pleased  as  Althea  with  a 
bright  nod  retired. 

".Now,  what  do  yon  suppose  those  girls  are 
U])  to?  "  she  said.  "  Secrets  behind  closed  doors. 


MOTHER   AND    CHILD  263 

and  I  lot  into  them  !  1 11  warrant  it  is  something 
about  your  birthday,  Emeline  —  why,  of  course  it 
is !  It  comes  next  week,  and  here  I  Ye  let  the 
cat's  tail  out  of  the  bag'  already !  What  a  shame ! 
Well,  you  can  be  unconscious." 

kw  Oh,  I  will  be  unconscious,"  rejoined  Mrs. 
Carruth,  smiling.  "  I  see  yoii  are  perishing  to 
be  off,  Luella.  You  need  n't  wait  for  me  after 
you  have  finished.  This  meal  seems  to  be  a  mov 
able  feast,  anyway." 

Thus  encouraged,  Miss  Beebe  was  soon  trotting 
briskly  upstairs,  full  of  pleasant  interest  in  the 
coming  interview.  In  spite  of  her  prognostica 
tion,  she  was  not  without  a  lurking  hope  that  the 
subject  of  it  might  be  Vandyke  after  all.  She 
had  dared  to  mention  him  and  Mrs.  Darling  to 
Margaret.  Possibly,  if  he  had  arrived,  the  girl 
wished  to  consult  her  on  the  matter. 

Smilingly  she  knocked  at  the  closed  door  and 
entered.  At  once  she  caught  sight  of  Margaret's 
stony  face.  iw  What  are  you  thinking  of,  Althea 
(iaylord? "  she  asked  sharply,  hurrying  to  the 
divan.  '•  Why  did  n't  you  tell  us  Margaret  was 
ill  ?  " 

"  Because  she  did  n't  wish  it  known,"  returned 
the  girl,  and  Miss  Beebe  was  almost  as  strangely 
impressed  by  her  unusual  manner  as  by  Mar 
garet's.  The  latter  sat  passive,  looking  at  the 
newcomer. 

u  What  is  it,  my  child,  my  dear  little  girl  ? " 


asked  Miss  Beebe  anxiously,  her  thoughts  in  a 
whirl.  Had  Mrs.  Darling  doped  with  Burton 
\  aiidyke?  ••  ^1  on  need  your  mother,  my  dear  ! 

A  shudder  passed  through  Margaret.  ••  I  sent 
tor  you.  she  began  slowlv,  "to  tell  me  aliont 
both  niv  father  and  my  niothei'." 

Miss  Luella  started,  ••  Y\  hat  a — a  question 
—  when  you  remember  your  father  as  -  as  well 
j^  

"•  Never  mind  all  that."  said  the  girl  di'earily. 
'•Mrs.  Darling  has  told  me." 

.Miss  Beebe's  heart  almost  sto])ped  beating'. 

"  I  see  it  is  hard  for  you.'  went  on  Margaret. 
'•  It  is  hard  for  us  all  :  but  1  did  n't  want  to  go 
without  knowing  more." 


'•To  some  place  where  people  tell  the  truth, 
and  where  they  don't  know  who  I  am." 

••  \\  hv,  Margaret  !  '  ejaculated  Miss  Beebe.  her 
face  working. 

••(Jo  on,  please.  I  understand  it  is  hard  in 
your  loyalty  to  your  friend. 

••Child,  you'll  drive  me  craxy  if  you  use  that 
cruel  tone  ! 

'•  Tell  her,  Miss  Beebe  !  "  commanded  Althea. 
'•  How  can  you  prolong  the  strain?  Mrs.  Darling 
has  told  her  that  she  is  not  a  Carruth.  She 
wants  the  facts,  \\hateyer  they  are,  and  the  kindest 
thing  for  poor  Mrs.  Carruth  is  to  tell  everything 
quickly." 


MOTHER   AND    CHILD  265 

Miss  Luella  trembled  so  she  could  scarcely 
speak.  It  seemed  like  a  dream,  and  no  reality, 
that  she  was  face  to  face  with  Margaret  Carruth, 
forced  to  corroborate  the  words  of  the  base  be 
trayer. 

"  Your  father  was  a  carpenter,"  she  said  trem 
ulously.  "  lie  died  before  you  were  born." 

Margaret's  mouth  looked   hard.      "  How  did  it 

O 

happen  that  Mr.  Carruth  consented  to  bring  me  up 
—  to  be  a  father  to  me  ?  " 

"  "Why,  he  was  as  pleased  as  your  mother  was," 
protested  Miss  Beebe  tremulously. 

"Pleased?  My  mother  pleased  !"  Margaret's 
eyes  were  awful,  and  Miss  Luella  opened  her  lips 
without  being  able  to  utter  another  word. 

Althea  looked  from  one  to  the  other  breath 
lessly.  "  Wait !  "  she  cried.  "  Is  Mrs.  Carruth 
Margaret's  mother  ?  " 

"Her — her"  — stammered  Miss  Beebe;  these 
hard-wrung  confessions  were  torture.  "  Not,  of 
course  —  not  really,  but  " 

"There,  do  you  hear,  darling?  Do  you  hear?" 
The  joyous  exclamation  enlightened  Miss  Luella 
and  sent  a  flame  through  her.  She  jumped  up 
with  such  vigor  that  her  chair  fell  over.  "  Is  that 
what  that  fiend  hinted  ?  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Mar 
garet  Carruth,  your  mother  was  as  good  and 
sweet  a  woman  as  lives !  I  knew  her  well ;  but 
she  loved  her  husband  too  much  to  stay  after  him, 
and  she  gave  her  baby  to  me  for  my  friend.  Oh, 


poor  child  !  "  for  slowly  Margaret  slid  down,  faint 
ing,  on  her  couch.  "Mrs.  Carruth  !  I  11  call 
her,"  cried  Mi>s  Luclla.  in  a  panic. 

••  \  ou  must  n  t  !  Althca  sprang  to  the  door 
and  locked  it.  "Tins  is  no  time  for  that.  Here, 
help  me. 

Together  thev  loosened  Margaret  s  habit,  chafed 
her  hands,  and  rubbed  cologne  on  her  temples. 
Althca  u'ivinu'  directions  HI  a  businesslike  way 
which  Miss  I>eebe  never  forgot. 

Soon  the  eyes  of  the  fainting  girl  opened  and 
glanced  from  one  to  the  other  of  the  faces  bending 
over  her. 

••  I  "m  sorry   to  trouble  you."   she  said:    then 

her  look  strayed  to  a  window  and  remained  there. 
The  rigidity  had  gone  from  her  iace.  and.  pale  as 
it  was,  A  It  lieu  saw  the  strange,  set  despair  had 
gone  with  it. 

She  beckoned  Miss  Beebe  from  the  room.  ••  Let 
us  leave  her  a  little  while,  she  said. 

Out  in  the  hall  Miss  Luella  wrung1  her  hands. 
'•  I  low  am  1  ever  going  to  tell  Mrs.  Carruth'/ 
she  groaned.  "How  do  you  suppose  Margaret 
will  meet  her?  Oh!  if  ever  a  woman  ought  to  be 
hung  by  the  neck  until  dead,  it's  Molly  Darling! 
She  has  murdered  the  happiness  of  my  poor  friend 
and  changed  life  for  that  girl,  whose  little  linger  is 
worth  her  whole  trumpery  body. 

'•  "\Yhen  I  think  what  a  shock-  it  is  to  me,"  said 
Althea,  weak  after  the  tension.  '•  1  can  imagine 


MOTHER    AND    CHILD  267 

what  it  must  be  to  Magnet.  Why,  it  will  take  me 
months  to  realize  that  she  is  no  kin  to  all  those 
people  she  has  told  me  so  much  about.  Only  yes 
terday  she  was  telling-  me  of  her  relatives  and 
speaking  of  some  of  her  own  hereditary  traits. 
Let  me  tell  you  though,  Miss  Beebe,  that  Mrs. 
Darling,  without  intending  it,  did  Mrs.  Carruth  a 
good  turn  by  that  wicked  slur.  In  the  reaction 
and  relief  from  that,  Magnet  will  find  the  actual 
facts  easier  to  bear.'' 

'•  Althea  Gay  lord,  you  're  a  real  smart  girl," 
returned  Miss  Beebe,  with  broken  gratitude.  "  I 
believe  you  're  right,  and  it  '11  be  a  tempering  of 
the  wind  to  poor  shorn  Emeline.  She  'd  lose  the 
whole  world  if  she  lost  that  child's  love.  There ! 
if  it  was  n't  so  selfish,  I  'd  wish  myself  safe  in 
Spring-dale.  I  would  n't  care  how  sweltering  hot 
it  was  if  I  did  n't  have  to  face  that  poor  dear  and 
tell  her.  Do  you  suppose,"  wistfully,  "  you  could 
do  it,  Althea  ?  " 

"  Xo  indeed !  It  would  be  insulting  for  me  to 
break  such  news,  with  you  right  in  the  house." 

"  Yes  ;  you  're  right.  You  've  got  a  real  good 
head,"  said  Miss  Beebe  distractedly.  "  You  tell 
me  when  to  go,  for  I  don't  seem  to  feel  any  judg 
ment  about  it,  somehow." 

"  Let  me  look,"  returned  the  girl,  "and  see -if 
Margaret  may  have  fallen  asleep.  I  know  she 
feels  exhausted." 

She  stole  to  the  door  of  the  room.     Margaret 


208  , 

was  still  lying  on  the  divan,  her  eyes  ga/ing  out 
at  the  sunset  skv.  A  subtle  reflection  of  iis 
brightness  was  in  her  face.  Altliea  marveled  at 
the  change  and  relief  that  had  altered  its  expres 
sion  :  for  Margaret  had  found  that  the  kernel,  the 
meaning,  the  crown  of  life  was  still  left  to  her. -- 
not  lost,  as  it  had  seemed  in  that  homeward  ride. 
She  was  still  a  girl  whose  heart  might  respond  to 
the  approaches  ot  a  man  of  honor,  and  that  con 
sideration  made  an  abiding  place  in  a  world  which 
else  was  rocking  to  its  foundations,  every  belief. 
tradition,  and  habit  of  thought  having  slipped 
from  its  place  and  left  her  mind  a  bewildering 
chaos.  She  was  not  Margaret  Carruth.  She  was 
somebody  else  :  hut  she  was  an  honest  somebody, 
and  that  made  the  difference  between  shining  hope 
and  black  despair. 

Althea  slipped  out  into  the  hall  again.  ••  I 
think  it  would  be  better  to  tell  Mrs.  Carruth  now." 
she  said  to  Miss  IVebe. 

••  1  'd  most  as  lief  take  and  throw  myself  right 
out  of  the  window  there.  If  you  only  knew  how 
that  woman  has  dreaded  this  day  ! 

But  Miss  Luella  went  downstairs,  where  she 
caught  sight  of  her  hostess  from  a  window, 

Mrs.  Carruth  beckoned  to  her.  "Aon  are  all 
missing  this  glorious  sunset!  '  she  said.  "Do 
come  ([nick  !  Did  you  ever  see  such  living  crim 
son  !  See  those  mackerel  boats:  I've  counted 
thirty  troiii<r  out  for  the  ni<rht,  and  every  sail 


MOTHER   AND    CHILD  269 

flushed  pink."  She  took  Miss  Beebe's  arm  as  she 
made  a  sweeping  gesture  around  the  horizon. 

"  It 's  magnificent,  Emeline."  Miss  Luella 
patted  the  fingers  on  her  arm  and  her  voiee  shook. 
"  The  sun  's  going  down  on  one  chapter  of  your 
life,  dear.  There  is  n't  any  reason  why  the  next 
should  n't  be  just  as  happy.  God  grant  the  whole 
story  may  be  happy  !  " 

"  Something  has  happened,  Luella !  "  Mrs. 
Carruth's  attention  was  instantly  concentrated  on 
her  friend. 

"  Mrs.  Darling  has  told  Margaret.  Yes,  that 's 
right ;  sit  down,  Kmeline.  She 's  told  her  what 
we  hoped  she  need  n't  ever  know ;  but  God  will 
help  you  both  through  it,  and  you  must  keep  up 
good  heart  and  courage.  You  " 

"  You  mean  it  has  nearly  killed  Margaret." 
Mrs.  Carruth's  voice  was  scarcely  audible  as  she 
grasped  her  friend's  arm  and  questioned  her  with 
agony  in  her  eyes. 

"  Mrs.  Darling  was  cruel.  She  let  the  ,child 
think  there  was  some  disgrace  about  her  birth; 
but  she  knows  the  truth  now." 

"  And  you  've  all  been  talking  to  her  and  I  Ve 
been  kept  away !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Carruth,  rising 
distractedly  from  her  chair. 

"  For  the  best,  Emeline.     For  the  best." 

"  Oh  yes  ;  of  course,  of  course  !  "  The  wretched 
woman  caught  her  lip  between  her  teeth  and  looked 
away.  To  grapple  with  problems  and  reduce  them 


to  order  was  the  habit  of  her  life:  Imt  this  one 
touehi'd  her  yery  soul. 

••  Poii  t  -pare  me!  she  said  at  last  abruptly, 
turn  in;;1  back  1o  her  friend.  ••  Tell  me  the  .-talc 
this  d'lM-overy  ha>  left  Margaret  in  liel'ore  1  go  t<> 
her/' 

••  1  don  t  really  know;  Imt  I  do  hope  thai,  as 
Althea  says,  things  were  represented  to  her  so 
much  worse  than  they  really  were,  that  she  11  take 
the  facts  easier.  .Miss  Heche  s  lips  compressed. 
with  sudden  resentment.  "  I  wish  you  'd  let  me 
go  with  you.  Kmeliue.  I  was  so  llustered.  and 
she  tainted 

"  My  poor  darling  ! 

"  — -  that  I  did  n't  say  the  things  on  your  side 
that  I  might  haye.  I  just  stood  there  trembling, 
when  1  might  haye  been  representing'  your  situa 
tion." 

'•  It  is  just  as  well.  Margaret  will  comprehend 
and  grasp  everything. 

.Miss  Heche  watched  her  friend's  pale  and  ab 
stracted  countenance  with  a  sort  of  awe.  It  was 
characteristic  in  Mrs.  Carruth  that  she  did  not 
mention  Mrs.  Darling,  nor  indulge  in  one  fruit 
less  moan. 

The  upper  edge  of  the  sun's  crimson  disk  slipped 
below  the  horizon. 

••  It  's  cold  out  here,  Emeline.  Come  inside, 
dear." 

••  The  sun  has  gone  down  on  my  happy  mother- 


MOTHER    AND    CHILD  271 

hood,  Luella.  I  am  going  upstairs  now  to  talk 
with  another  woman  whom  I  know  well,  —  clear- 
eyed,  honest,  uncompromising,  who  will  demand  of 
me  her  old  faith  in  human  honesty,  and  claim  her 
right  to  govern  her  life  independently  of  me." 

"  Gratitude  —  gratitude  "  —  stammered  Miss 
Luella. 

"'  Yes,  she  will  feel  that  punctiliously,  and  she 
will  be  considerate.  Oh,  the  wound  of  that  !  " 
For  the  first  time  Mrs.  Carruth  shuddered  and 
buried  her  face  in  her  hands. 

"  Do  let  me  come  with  you,  Emeline.  You  will 
never  tell  that  girl  all  she  ought  to  realize." 

u  Xo,  Luella,"  was  the  firm  reply  ;  and  then  in 
the  dim  light  Miss  Beebe  watched  her  friend,  like 
a  suddenly  old  woman,  toiling  up  the  stairs  toward 
Margaret's  room. 

The  door  was  closed,  and  Mrs.  Carruth  opened 
it.  She  saw  the  figure  lying  on  the  divan,  and, 
closing  the  door  behind  her,  advanced  toward  it 
and  stood  still. 

"  Margaret,"  she  began,  with  gentle  abruptness, 
"  no  young  heart  can  make  you  understand  the 
hunger  that  bade  me  cheat  you  with  myself  into 
the  belief  that  you  were  wholly  mine.  Now  my 
punishment  has  come,  and  it  is  heavy  enough  for 
any  crime.  I  am  as  much  your  mother  as  ever. 
Can  you  conceive,  then,  what  is  lost  to  me  in  los 
ing  my  child  ?  "  The  appealing  tones  died  away. 

Margaret    raised    herself    from    the    divan  and 


2<2  A    Gil  EAT    LOVE 

stood  swaying  slightly,  supporting  herself  by  a 
chair  as  she  stood  tall  in  her  riding-habit. 

k-  The  only  relationship  that  truly  binds  is  left 
us  still,"  she  said  tenderly.  '•  Mother,  darling 
mother!  What  love  yon  have  shown  me  !  1  am 
your  child  still.  X<>  one  shall  rob  us  of  each 
other  !  " 

Althea  (iaylord.  pacing  back  and  forth  in  the 
hall,  heard  an  exclamation,  then  stillness  fell. 
She  went  to  a  window.  The  wind  blew  in  freshly 
from  the  sea.  and  the  evening  star  was  shining. 


BY    THE    SEA 

Miss  GAYLORD  was  sitting  in  her  favorite  grove, 
not  this  time  with  a  book,  but  out  on  the  water's 
edge,  where  the  breeze  filled  her  light  sleeves. 

She  had  probably  been  sitting  there  some  time, 
only  that  no  one  kept  count  of  time  at  Cliff  Nest, 
when  somebody  came  across  the  bridge  behind  her 
and  dropped  down  by  her  side  on  the  rock. 

"  Why,  Butterfly  !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  How  hard 
you  lit!" 

French  read  his  welcome  in  her  start  and  blush 
of  pleasure. 

"  Oh,  how  pale  you  are !  "  she  went  on,  as  he 
pressed  her  hand. 

"  No  more  so  than  all  the  land-lubbers  I  've  left 
behind  me,"  he  returned.  "  This  is  the  normal 
color  in  Boston,  but  you  've  been  saying  '  Yo  heave- 
ho  !  '  so  long,  you  have  forgotten.  The  sun  and 
wind  have  certainly  got  in  their  work  on  you.  I 
shall  have  to  sing  '  My  Love  is  like  a  red,  red 
rose,'  to  you." 

"  You  mean,  '  My  Love,  she  has  a  red,  red 
nose,'  "  returned  Althea.  "  I  hope  you  are  going 
to  stay  long  enough  to  get  one  too,  you  poor  lily- 
white  creature." 


••  You  nii^lit  l>e  kind  and  call  me  a  lily-white 
duck." 

••  \\  oiild  n  t  it  lie  fiui  if  we  were  both  ducks? 
When  YOU  came.  I  was  just  wishing  I  was  one  of 
those  gulls.  Their  hat! ling-suits  never  leak',  or 
look  bedraggled  when  they  dip  into  the  waves. 
Kvery  dav  I  wish  I  was  something'  different,"  «he 
turned  toward  her  companion,  smiling;  ••  I  suppose 
just  because  I  find  it  such  a  lark  to  he  Althea 
( iavlord. 

u  Any  connection  between  a  guil  and  a  lark?" 
asked  Willard  lazily.  He  had  fitted  himself  into 
a  gully  in  the  rock  and  was  leaning  on  his  elliow. 

"•The  gulls  seem  to  find  that  there  is.  Thev  do 
have  the  best  sport.  Sometimes  I  decide  !>•  lie  a 
sandpiper.  See  them  down  tin-re  now,  running 
over  the  boulders  and  pebbles  ? 

"  I  could  if  I  moved,  but  1  would  ?ft  move  for  a 
farm — 1  mean  for  a  yacht.  Pardon  the  lapse 
from  local  color.  ' 

*•  1  think  I  look  a  good  deal  like  a  sandpiper, 
anyway."  declared  Althea  pensively.  "  My  nose 
is  long  and  thin,  and  I  'm  a  light  sort  of  a  thing 
generally." 

"Very  well,  I  '11  look  at  von  then.  It  is  less 
trouble  and  more  satisfaction." 

k- I  d  rather  you  wouldn't.  \  o\i  11  grow  too 
envious  of  my  complexion. 

ik  No,  1  have  some  smoked  glasses  with  me  if 
my  eyes  aren't  equal  to  the.  strain.  You  are  n't 


BY    THE    SEA  27O 

such  a  light  weight  as  you  were,  Althea,"  lie  ob 
served  critically  after  a  moment,  in  which  her  rud 
diness  had  been  steadily  increasing. 

u  Miss  Gaylord,  if  you  please." 

"  No  airs,  my  ward,  just  because  you  happen  to 
have  been  away  some  time  from  your  natural  pro 
tector." 

"  You  never  called  me  Althea,  my  guardian," 
scornfully.  "  You  were  always  far  too  busy  teach 
ing  me  to  say  '  prunes  and  prisms/  I  should  n't 
have  allowed  it,  any  way,"  she  added  as  an  after 
thought. 

"  Is  that  true  ?  "  he  inquired  lazily.      "  Did  n't 
I  ?     Then  I  must  have  been  doing  it  since  you  left 
Boston.      A  man  gets  into  careless  habits  when  he 
is  left  to  his  own  devices.     It 's  a  pretty  name  — 
Althea.      Xame  of  a  flower,  is  n't  it?  " 

"  Yes  ;  and  no  flower  of  the  field  could  have 
been  lazier  than  I  have  been  here,"  she  went  on, 
finding  his  prolonged  gaze  decidedly  embarrassing. 
"  You  know  I  am  naturally  industrious." 

"To  a  fault." 

w>  Well,  I  've  struck  the  average  now.  I  don't 
just  know  why  it  is  so  tempting  and  easy  to  do 
absolutely  nothing  here." 

"  Nature  does  n't  want  to  do  anything  in  win 
ter  ;  we  don't  want  to  do  anything  in  summer," 
suggested  Willarcl.  "  Ask  me  a  hard  one." 

"  That  may  be  it,  for  I  've  decided  that  it  is 
just  because  Nature  is  so  busy  all  around  me  that 


A     GRKAT    LOVE 

I  don't  want  to  do  a  tiling  Imt  watch  her.  What 
•would  any  little  energy  of  mine  amount  to  in  com 
parison  with  the  things  the  waves  and  clouds  and 
winds  arc  doing  all  the  time?  So  I  just  sit  under 
n  spell,  hour  after  hour  " 

k<  I  don't  think  you  sit  under  anything.  It 
has  n't  been  of  any  account  to  shade  you,  if  you 
have. 

**  \\  ill  vou  kindly  stop  personal  remarks,  you 
very  citified  person  ?  \\  hero  are  your  golf 
clothes  ?  " 

"  In  my  dress  suit-case." 

'•  Don't  tell  me  you  are  parted  from  that  dress 
suit  !  " 

"•  Temporarily.  ' 

Ci  No  wonder  you  look  pale.  \Vho  are  you  vis 
iting,  anyhow  ?  " 

tw  117/ow,  my  child.'' 

"'Who'  isn't  slang',  and  I  shall  say  it  all  I 
like." 

'l  I  'in  visiting  you." 

"  What  house  are  you  staying  at,  or  are  you 
just  a  tramp  ?  When  did  you  come  ?  Have  you 
seen  Magnet  ?  " 

"  I  found  the  house  deserted.  The  maid  said 
this  was  one  of  the  likeliest  places  for  dear-stalk 
ing,  so  here  I  am." 

"You  have  reached  Cliff  Xest  at  a  very  inter 
esting  period,"'  said  Althea  mysteriously.  "'  AVe 
are  having  a  honeymoon." 


n  r  THE  SEA  2  i  7 

Willard's  eyes,  which  had  grown  narrow  and 
sleepy  in  the  vitalized  air,  opened. 

"•  How  is  that?  Guests  ?  Then  I  can  go  over 
to  Mrs.  Darling's  first." 

'•  Don't  mention  her  !  "  ejaculated  Miss  Gay- 
lord  sharply. 

"Bless  me •!  "  commented  French. 

"  She  has  done  all  she  could  to  make  trouble, 
and  it  is  n't  her  fault  that  it  came  to  nothing." 

"  What  has  the  lively  Molly  been  up  to  now  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  can  tell  you." 

"  Trouble  between  Magnet  and  some  one  of  her 
admirers  ?  Honeymoon  ?  That  has  nothing  to 
do  with  Magnet,  and  her  friends  uninformed,  I 
should  hope." 

"  It  is  between  Magnet  and  her  mother,"  said 
Althea  gravely.  "  They  passed  through  a  deep 
ti'ouble  caused  by  Mrs.  Darling,  and  owing  to 
their  own  good  feeling  and  sense  have  escaped 
shipwreck.  They  are  in  the  reaction  of  happi 
ness,  having  regained  each  other  after  the  trouble." 

French  raised  himself.  "  You  don't  mean  to 
say  that  Mrs.  Darling  told "  —  he  stopped,  and 
Althea  had  never  seen  such  a  look  on  his  face. 

"  Yes,  she  did !  "  The  girl  nodded  emphati 
cally. 

"  What  did  she  tell?  "  he  asked  cautiously. 

"I  wonder  if  you  know,"  responded  Althea  with 
equal  caution.  "  Lots  of  people  do,  it  seems  ;  but 
I  didn't." 


••  It  was  that.  then,  (iivat  heavens!'  lie 
made  the  ejaculation  slowlv  and  thoughtfully, 
dwelling  (in  all  that  innst  have  passed.  --Miss 
I>eel>e  was  here  ?  lie  asked  after  a  minute. 

••  ^  es.        Althea  sighed  at  her  memories. 

••  And   Magnet   has  come  out  of  it  all  right  '.'  " 

"•  ^  es.  She  and  her  mother  L;O  to  walk  and 
have  loii"1  talks,  and  are  more  demonstrative  to 
gether  than  I  Jiave  cvei1  known  them." 

"Amazing!  I  feared  it  would  kill  her  if  it 
ever  came. 

Althea  gave  a  little  smile  down  at  the  sand 
pipers.  She  had  her  own  theory  about  Marga 
ret  s  secret  helps. 

••Do  you  ever  see  Mr.  Vandyke?"  ^he  asked, 
after  they  had  both  sat  quiet  for  a  little  space. 

••  ^  es.  occasionally.  ^  ou  think  I  ni  a  lilv- 
white  duck. —  von  ought  to  see  him.  lie  s  a  hlv- 
"white  g'liost  of  himself.  The  man's  working1  him 
self  to  death." 

"•Foolish  creature!  Why  dot's  n't  he  take  a 
vacation  ?  " 

"•  Thinks  he  can't." 

'•  lie  11  iind  he  can  when  lie  lias  a  doctor  and  a 
trained  nurse  taking  care  of  him.  Mr.  French, 
yon  ou»'lit  to  attend  to  that." 

••  I  said  all  I  could." 

'•  AY  here  there  's  a  will  there  's  a  way.  You 
should  have  brought  him ;  and  look  here:  I  want 
you  to  tell  him  what  Airs.  Darling  has  done." 


BY   THE    SEA  279 

"  "Why  this  malice  ?  " 

"  I  think  if  lie  wore  n't  hound  by  his  promise  to 
visit  her,  he  would  like  to  come  here." 

French  smiled.  "  You  think  the  Magnet  works 
again,  do  you  ?  *' 

'•  I  do  think  so,  and  as  I  don't  know  anything' 
about  it,  it  is  n't  wrong  for  me  to  talk  to  you 
about  it,  is  it?  "  Altlieamet  her  companion's  eyes 
wistfully. 

"  I  lighly  commendable,  I  think.  I  'ye  had  some 
curious  thoughts  about  this  myself." 

So  Althea,  with  much  gusto,  again  described 
the  scene  of  parting  on  the  train.  u  Xow  see  how 
he  is  running  down  there  in  that  hot  city,"  she 
went  on  excitedly,  u  and  here  the  Princess  in  the 
castle  may  be  thinking  about  him.  I  believe  she 
is.  And  he  knows  there  is  a  tawny  tigress  wait 
ing  to  spring  at  him  if  he  shows  that  beautiful 
straight  nose  of  his  here,  and  you  can  see  —  any 
body  can  see  —  that  it  is  your  duty  to  cut  the 
tigress's  claws.  One  thing  I  '11  tell  you,"  went  on 
Althea  diplomatically,  "  in  the  first  of  Magnet's 
trouble,  when  she  thought  of  leaving  Cliff  Nest, 
her  impulse  was  to  go  straight  to  you." 

"  Bless-her!  "  said  French. 

"  So  you  can  see  that  Mr.  Vandyke,  being  your 
friend,  if  Magnet  cares  anything  for  him,  you  can 
befriend  them  both  ;  and  as  much  as  she  thinks 
of  you,  you  ought  to  do  it." 

u  Evidently,   then,"     said    French,    his    hands 


-ISO  A    GREAT  LOVE 

clasped  behind  his  head,  u  I  ought  to  go  Lack  to 
the  eitv  to-night." 

••Why'.'"  asked  Altliea.  and  the  tone  of  liev 
voice,  after  the  t'-nsc  and  full  one  she  had  lieen 
usin^,  suggested  that  something  had  happened  to 
deprive  her  of  her  breath-support. 

'•  \\  hv.  I  ought  to  go  and  labor  with  Vandyke." 

••  I  did  n  t  mean  there  \vas  so  much  hurrv. 

'•A  man  with  such  a  beautiful  straight  nose 
deserves  consideration." 

••  But  von  can  write  to  him." 

French  smiled  out  at  a  distant  frothy  ledge,  lie 
had  come  to  Cliff  Nest  on  a  vovage  of  discovery, 
having  himseli  learned  certain  surprising  facts 
since  Miss  (iavlord  left  Boston. 

••  Well.  I  might  try  writing.  Let  me  tell  vou 
something  though,  mv  little  lady.  I  prophesy 
that  the  Carruths  will  not  ostracize  Mrs.  Darling, 
whatever  she  has  done." 

"  Why  not?" 

u  Pride,  regard  for  her  husband,  desire  to  check 
gossip.  —  many  reasons.  A  policy  which  ignores 
her  act  will  keep  her  from  saying  any  more,  for 
be  sure  she  is  ashamed  of  herself  by  this  time." 

\\  hile  the  two  were  talking.  Miss  I>eebe.  having 
reached  home  from  some  expedition,  came  across 
the  bridge.  Shade  hats  were  not  practical  on  this 
coast  unless  reefed  and  made  fast.  Miss  Beebe  s 
was  confined  by  strings  tied  under  her  chin,  and 
the  scoop  before  and  behind  decorated  with  rib- 


BY    THE    SEA  281 

bon  ;  that  in  front  was  drawn  into  loops  which 
took  a  singularly  pugilistic  attitude  above  her  eye 
glasses. 

She  mounted  the  needle-covered  knoll  before 
she  discovered  that  Althea  was  not  alone,  and  then 
she  stood  still,  gazing  through  and  over  her  glasses, 
grimacing  variously  in  her  anxiety  to  discover  the 
identity  of  the  gill's  companion. 

Her  first  thought  and  hope  was  Vandyke.  The 
dreaded  crisis  of  Margaret's  life  was  past.  Now 
if  its  crown  could  come,  here,  in  Miss  Luella's 
sight  and  knowledge,  there  would  be  a  poetical 
justice,  a  fitness,  a  gratification  in  the  whole  situa 
tion,  never  to  be  forgotten. 

That  straw  hat  and  brown  suit  might  belong  to 
anybody.  It  baffled  her.  She  stole  nearer  and 
nearer,  and  with  every  step  her  hope  grew,  for 
French  in  his  lolling  attitude  was  a  vague  figure 
mingling  with  the  rocks. 

The  sound  of  the  surf  deadened  any  token  of 
Miss  Luella's  advance  among  the  dry  twigs,  until 
she  was  beside  the  young  people. 

"  Willard  French,  is  that  you  ?  "  she  exclaimed 
in  her  disappointment.  "  I  thought  you  were  Mr. 
Vandyke." 

He  started  to  his  feet.  "  I  ought  to  be.  I  am 
profoundly  aware  that  I  am  the  wrong  man  in  the 
right  place.  Miss  Gaylord  feels  just  as  you  do. 
Oh,  why  have  n't  I  a  beautiful  straight  nose  !  " 

"  My    dear    Willard,"    said    Miss    Beebe    con- 


tritely,  "we're  very  glad  to  see  you,  of  course. 
^  on  kno\v  flint. 

-•  I  don  t  see  why  1  should  know  it.  I  never 
was  a  good  guesser. 

••  \\  liv.  ni  course  \ve  are!  Althea,  say  some 
thing!  It  was  only  that  .Mr.  Vandyke  talked 
about  coming  and  --()  \Villard.  has  Altliea  told 
\  on  what  has  happened  '.' 

I'reiicii  admitted  that  she  had.  and  Miss  Luella 
immediately  began  giving1  him  directions  as  to 
circumventing1  Mrs.  Darling,1  in  ln-r  nefarious 
schemes  to  lie  \  andvke's  hostess. 

••  \  es,  ves.  I  ve  heard  all  that,  and  \ou're 
wasting  ammunition,  tor  Vandyke  has  giun  up 
visiting  her." 

••There!      You  hear,  Altliea?"  triumphantly. 

But  Miss  Luella  s  elation  oozed  out  on  second 
thought.  ••Supposing,  then,  that  lie  telt  he 
could  n  t  come  at  all!  she  ended  blankly. 

'•That's  just  what  he  feels,"  said  French.  ••  and 
his  decision  seems  so  tragical  in  its  effects  that  I 
am  about  to  return  to  the  Hub  and  scud  him  on 
at  once  to  tan  that  classical  proboscis  of  his.  while 
my  own  broken  feature  retains  its  pallor  unhonored 
and  unsung,  or  grows  red  from  other  causes." 

k>  Indeed  you  wont  !  It  s  tea-time,  and  you 
come  right  along  to  the  house  and  see  how  pleased 
the  CaiTuths  will  be  to  see  you.' 

Miss  Beebe  managed  to  draw  Altliea  behind  as 
they  were  crossing  the  narrow  bridge.  ••  I  think 


BY    THE    SEA  283 

Willard  does  feel  a  little  hurt,"  she  whispered. 
^  You  must  make  of  him." 

Her  direction  evidently  seemed  such  a  definite 
one  to  the  giver  of  it  that  its  vagueness  made 
Althea  smile. 

French  found  himself  in  the  centre  of  a  happy 
family  circle  that  night.  It  was  good  to  be  in 
touch  with  the  indefinable  sphere  of  peace  and 
love  and  confidence  that  he  felt,  and  he  spoke  of 
it  to  Althea  when  late  in  the  evening  they  two 
took  a  constitutional  around  the  long  piazzas. 

She  assented.  '•  It  is  as  if  they  had  been  on 
the  brink  of  a  great  loss,"  she  answered,  "  as  if 
they  had  snatched  each  other  back  from  the  grave. 
They  are  still  in  the  thankfulness  of  it." 

She  stood  still,  because  her  escort  did,  at  the 
point  in  their  walk  which  brought  them  nearest  to 
the  high,  powerful  tide.  "  Let  us  watch  it  here  a 
minute,"  he  said. 

She  sprang  lightly  up  on  the  piazza  rail,  and  he 
leaned  beside  her  against  one  of  the  colonial  pillars 
that  supported  the  portico. 

"  I  have  something  to  say  to  you,"  he  began ; 
and  Althea's  heart  commenced  to  beat  apprehen 
sively. 

"  No,  not  now,  not  yet,"  she  said  impulsively. 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  Because  —  because  everything  is  so  pleasant 
and  I  'in  so  happy,  and  —  really,  I  have  n't  the 
least  idea  what  I  've  done." 


-S4  A    GREAT   LOVE 

French  watched  her  in  the  vague  light. 

••  \\  hat  do  you  think  you  've  done  ?  " 

-•Oh.  I  su])])ose  I  said  something  that  jarred,  or 
I  did  something  you  did  n  t  Jike.  •  Where  igno 
rance  is  Miss,  't  is  folly  to  l>e  wise.'  I  'd  rather 
pretend  to-night  that  you  think  I  am  perfect." 

'•  Agreed  !  \\  e  'U  do  it.  There  is  only  one 
condition." 

*•  Name  it  !  '  said  Althea.  in  ihe  soft  drawl,  half- 
laugh,  she  often  used,  and  which,  from  consider 
ing  it  o!)|ectional)!e,  French  had  come  to  think  the 
prettiest  mannerism  on  earth. 

••  That  yon  pretend  to  think  that  I  am  perfect 
too. 

••Oh.  who  dares  doubt  that?  Mr.  Willard 
French,  the  glass  of  fashion  and  mould  of  form  : 
the  ladies'  delight,  the  leader  of  germans.  the 
authority  on  etiquette  " 

••Look  here  !  Don't  you  represent  me  to  your 
father  like  that !  " 

••  What  has  Dad  to  do  with  it  ?  "  asked  Althea 
in  surprise. 

'•  Why,  I  am  hoping'  to  have  some  dealings  with 
him." 

'"Indeed?  How  interesting!"  The  girl's 
pleased  tone  changed  to  one  of  thoughtful  warn 
ing.  kk  \  on  'd  Letter  look  out.  though.  Butterfly. 
Dad's  a — a-  Oh.  how  in  the  world  are  yon 
going  to  say  'hustler'  in  I>ostonese?"  She  shook 
her  head  portentously.  "  I  'in  afraid  your  delib- 


BY   THE   SEA  285 

erate  ways  would  n't  stand  much  chance  with 
Dad." 

"  You  are  making  me  extremely  uncomfortable," 
said  French.  '»  I  don't  suppose  you  know  it.  And 
you  're  not  keeping  your  part  of  the  compact, 
either." 

"  Are  you  really  thinking  of  coming  out  West  ?  " 
asked  Althea,  whose  thoughts  and  pulses  were 
bounding.  u  I  tell  you,  it 's  a  good  place  for 
young  men.  Lots  of  chances  for  positions  com 
pared  to  the  East." 

"•  The  trouble  is  witli  me,  I  'in  so  fastidious," 
said  French.  "  There  's  only  one  position  I  care 
about  getting.  Xo  other  would  hold  out  the  slight 
est  inducement." 

"Is  it  with  Dad?"  asked  Althea,  more  and 
more  surprised. 

"  Yes." 

"  Better  tell  me,  then.  There  are  n't  many  peo 
ple  can  do  anything  with  Dad,  but  I  'm  one  who 
can  ;  and  if  it  is  a  position  where  my  influence 
would  count  for  anything,  or  I  could  have  a  word 
to  say  "  —  she  paused. 

"  You  could." 

"  Then  I  will,"  said  the  girl  promptly.  "  There  's 
my  hand  on  it." 

French's  grasp  closed  on  the  small  fingers. 
"  This  is  just  what  I  want,"  he  remarked. 

"  Well,  tell  the  rest.     The  position  is  "  - 

"  Son-in-law,"  replied  French  quietly. 


"  Wha-- what  ?"  gasped  AJthea. 

'•  \\  ill  you  keep  \<mr  word  ?  "Will  you  use 
your  iniluenee  7 

••  What  if  I  won't?"  she  asked  confusedlv. 
wishing  she  had  a  hand  at  liberty  to  pinch  herself, 
but  her  companion  was  holding  them  both. 

••  Then  I  should  have  to  go  out  alone  and  beard 
the  lion  in  his  den. 

••  But  Dad  hasn't  any  (laughter  except  me," 
said  Althea  feebly. 

••  Did  you  think   I  wanted  to  be  a  Mormon  7 

••  But  you  don  t  approve  of  me. 

•••  7  want  about  fifty  years"  time  in  whieh  to 
show  you  that  I  do. 

«  Willard!  Althea  !  Willard!  "  It  was  Miss 
Beebe.  groping  near-sightedly  along  the  pia/xa  a 
few  minutes  afterward,  and  almost  upon  them,  as 
she  called. 

*•  Present!"  responded  French,  so  unexpectedly 
near  that  she  uttered  a  faint  shriek. 

••  It  is  cold.  \Villard,"  she  said  accusingly. 
"  Where  is  Althea  ?  " 

u  I  lere.  in  my  arms." 

w-  What!  "  severely.     "  ^\ "hat  in  the  world  !  ' 

••k  You  told  me  to  make  of  him,  "  said  Althea  de 
murely,  "  and  he  does  n  t  feel  hurt  any  longer. 

'•  Come,  Miss  Beebe."  Frelieh  extended  a  hand 
to  her.  *•  It's  cjuite  right  you  should  be  in  this. 
You  made  the  match. 

"•  So  I  did  !  "   ejaculated    Miss  Luella,  her  heart 


BY    THE    SEA  287 

beating  in  a  delighted  reaction.  "  No,"  with  sud 
den  caution,  '•  I  did  not !  I  '11  never  admit  it, 
never,  till  I  know  what  Mrs.  Gaylord  says.  Oh, 
you  dear  children  !  "  She  kissed  them  both  ten 
derly,  —  AYillard  on  the  chin,  and  Althea  in  the 
eye,  owing  to  the  darkness  and  her  excitement. 
"  May  you  have  all  the  happiness  I  wish  for  you  I 
Heaven  bless  you  both  !  " 


CIIAITKR   XIX 

TIIK    ONK    Qt   KSTION 

Tins  new  happiness  that  had  had  its  birth  at 
Cliff  Nest  was  felt  as  pleasantly  hv  Mrs.  ('arruth 
and  Margaret  as  by  Miss  Ludla. 

It  was  Mrs.  Carrnth's  ONVJI  idea  that  she  should 
write  a  letter  to  ^\Ir.  and  Mrs.  (iaylord.  to  go  in 
the  same  mail  with  Althea's  and  \\  illai'd  s. 

'•  \\  illard  has  no  mother  to  speak  tor  him.  she 
explained,  and  Althea  nearly  we])t  from  gratitude. 
This  was  one  of  the  many  eases  where  .Mrs.  C'ar- 
ruth's  word  would  liave  weight. 

'•  \\  hat  can  we  ever  do  for  these  people?  '  the 
girl  said  to  \Villard.  "One  thing  we  can  refrain 
from  doing,  and  that  is  to  tell  them  about  poor 
j\lr.  Vandyke.  They  like  him  enough  to  he 
troubled  by  what  you  say  of  him.  1  'm  sure." 

"  I  don't  want  to  pry."  returned  French,  "  but 
I'd  like  to  know  if  Magnet  shares  the  general 
feminine  admiration  for  Vandyke  ''.  " 

'•  I  hope  she  will  get  oyer  it  if  she  does.  '  re 
turned  Althea.  '•  The  idea  of  his  not  coming  to 
see  her  here  !  " 

'-  Oh  !      You  did  n't  talk  that  way  yesterday." 

"  ^So.      Yesterday    was  "  Althea    hesitated 


THE    ONE    QUESTION  289 

and  looked  at  him  in  a  confiding  way,  which  would 
have  made  French  take  her  hand,  except  that  he 
had  it  already ;  as  it  was  he  merely  squeezed  it. 
"  Yesterday  was  different,"  she  finished. 

"  Now  I  'm  to  know  what  you  really  think, 
then  ?  " 

"  Yes.  I  really  think  he  does  n't  care  so  much 
as  I  supposed  if  he  actually  lets  any  matter  of 
business,"  this  with  vast  scorn,  "  prevent  him  from 
coming  here  all  summer." 

';  AVell,  let  us  wait.  The  summer  is  n't  very 
old  yet." 

That  is  what  Margaret  considered  also.  Her 
bringing-up  had  not  looked  toward  a  sudden  grati 
fying  of  her  wishes.  It  was  second  nature  to  her 
to  expect  that  the  needs  and  demands  of  others 
were  to  be  met  and  satisfied  before  her  own  plans 
could  be  carried  out.  So  whatever  was  preventing 
Vandyke  from  appearing  at  Spindrift  at  the  date 
his  hostess  expected  him,  she  took  it  for  granted 
that  it  was  an  important  claim,  and  still  looked 
forward  with  faith  and  patience. 

She  spent  much  time  in  the  seat  among  the 
ledges,  with  her  work  or  a  book  or  merely  her 
thoughts.  Not  often  did  she  distress  herself  with 
memories  of  her  scene  with  Mrs.  Darling.  It  had 
been  so  paralyzing  in  its  effects  at  the  time  that  in 
reminiscence  it  seemed  more  like  nightmare  than 
reality  ;  but  often  her  thoughts  dwelt  on  the  young 
unknown  father  and  mother  who  lay  sleeping  in 


the  country  cemetery,  mid  imagination  traced  th<> 
])ossil)le  trend  of  her  life  li;id  thev  lived.  Her 
voice  would  probably  have  been  discovered  just 
the  same.  She  could  have  earned  her  living  with 
it.  could  perhaps  have  attained  fame.  \Vhv.  then. 
did  not  that  vista  of  freedom  allure  her  c\citiii;.';i\ 
and  wistfully'.''  She  knew,  sitting  there  <j'aziiii>' out 
on  the  interminable  waste  of  liri^ht  water.  Hie 
knew  that  it  was  because  in  that  case  she  never 
would  have  known  - 

'•Magnet!"  called  Althea.  The  latter  had 
final.lv  been  told  of  her  friend'.-  guarded  retreat, 
and  as  -.he  never  ventured  to  it  except  l»y  invita 
tion  unless  in  ease  of  necessity ,  Murgavel  >t.irt  d  up. 

'•Some  one  to  see  yon.'  said  the  newcomer 
acro-s  t  he  ledg'O. 

»  Who?" 

••  I  don't  know.  Sex  female,  color  white,  a^r 
about  thirty,  size  small,  no  cards/ 


••  She  said  yon  did  n't  know  her,  so  it  would  n  t 
make  anv  difference." 

"  It  's  an  at^'cnt,  Althea.  Why  did  n't  yon 
dispose  of  her  ?  " 

'•  Oh,  no,  indeed  she  is  n  t !  She  s  a  dainty 
little  tiling,  and  her  gowu  is  so  pretty!  I  wish 
you  would  notice  how  her  jacket  is  made  ;  1  d 
like  to  have  one  just  like  it.  and  I.  did  n't  have 
time  to  examine.  I  knew  you  wouldn't  want  to 
see  anybodv,  but  I  hadn't  the  heart  to  excuse 


THE    ONE    QUESTION  291 

you.  She  has  come  all  the  way  from  the  hotel  in 
a  cab." 

"  Why,  it 's  just  a  caller,  then."  Margaret 
gathered  herself  out  of  her  mood  of  Arcadian 
dreaming  and  slipped  on  the  familiar  harness  of 
society.  "  What  amazing  energy  some  people 
have !  "  she  sighed  meekly,  with  an  apologetic 
smile  at  Althea  for  her  own  inhospitality. 

The  two  girls,  their  arms  about  each  other, 
moved  toward  the  house.  "  What  have  you  done 
with  your  shadow  ?  "  asked  Margaret. 

"  He  has  gone  to  get  out  a  boat.  We  are  going 
rowing.  Oh,  Magnet !  "  with  an  impulsive  hug, 
"  did  you  ever  hear  of  such  a  fortunate  creature 
as  I  ?  I  wish  I  had  as  romantic  a  home  for  you 
to  become  engaged  in.  Nothing  else  would  ever 
pay  my  debt  to  you." 

Margaret  smiled.  "  All  places  are  romantic 
under  certain  circumstances,"  she  answered.  They 
reached  the  piazza  and  exchanged  a  look  of  happy 
significance,  Margaret  taking  her  friend's  chin  and 
turning  her  face  up  for  playful  examination. 

"  You  're  the  dearest  thing  on  earth,  Magnet 
Carruth !  "  said  Althea,  in  an  access  of  admira 
tion  for  the  clear,  true  eyes  and  strong,  reposeful 
face. 

Margaret  laughed.  "  You  say  that  so  glibly,  I 
suspect  you  've  been  rehearsing.  Good-by.  Don't 
let  Willard  forget  to  row,  or  you  will  be  late  to 
tea." 


She  went  into  tlic  house,  and  Althea  skipped 
awav,  with  a  last  look  over  her  shoulder. 

In  the  dee]>  embrasure  of  one  of  the  windows  of 
the  living-room  sat  a  small  Monde  woman,  waiting. 
She  was  not  looking  out  at  the  spacious  views,  nor 
about  her  at  the  graceful,  fanciful  furnishing  of 
the  seashore  home.  Her  eyes  were  riveted  on 
the  door,  and  when  Margaret  entered  thev  fas 
tened  upon  her  with  as  eager  scrutiny  as  if  life 
depended  on  a  mastery  of  the  newcomer's  face  and 
features. 

'•  Miss  Carruth,  I  suppose?"  she  said,  rising. 

Margaret  assented  and  advanced. 

'•  Mv  name  is  Sterling.  Kdna  Sterling  :"  then 
as  an  afterthought,  "have  you  ever  heard  it?" 

"  I  believe  not. 

'•  I  thought  so.  I  have  come  a  long  way  to  sec 
you." 

k-  Yes  :  it  is  some  distance  to  the  hotel." 

"  I  have  come  much  further  than  that.  Is  there 
some  place  where  we  can  be  entirely  alone  ? 

Margaret  regarded  her  guest  in  surprise. 
".Right  here,  I  think."' 

'*  It  —  it  seems  so  large  and  open. 

Margaret  began  to  believe  the  little  woman  was 
astrav  in  her  mind,  — she  had  such  a  strained  and 
yet  childlike  look  about  the  eyes  that  scrutinized 
so  eagerly.  Jler  manner,  however,  was  gentle  and 
refined,  her  face  expressive,  and  she  evidently  be 
lieved  herself  on  an  important  errand. 


THE    ONE    QUESTION  293 

"  Be  quite  easy,"  returned  Margaret,  "  you  can 
say  whatever  you  wish  here." 

She  seated  herself  in  the  window,  and  the 
stranger,  with  a  last  look  about  her  surroundings, 
rather  reluctantly  took  the  place  beside  her. 

She  looked  directly  into  Margaret's  eyes  for  a 
silent  space,  then  she  spoke  softly. 

"  I  have  come  all  the  way  from  Philadelphia  to 
ask  you  one  question.  Do  you  love  Burton  Van 
dyke  ?  " 

In  her  amazement  Miss  Carruth  half  rose  from 
her  chair,  then  sank  back  again,  and  a  deep  color 
dyed  her  face  and  throat. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  question  ?  "  she 
said. 

The  visitor  shook  her  head  slowly.  "  Nothing 
that  need  make  you  angry.  Indeed,  you  should 
not  be  angry,"  she  said  gently. 

"  It  is  a  question  he  has  never  asked  me,"  said 
Margaret,  recovering  herself,  and  certain  now  that 
her  visitor's  reason  was  unbalanced,  possibly 
through  the  very  emotion  she  sought  to  find  here. 

"  Of  course  he  has  not,"  was  the  quiet  answer. 
"  I  knew  that.  lie  has  been  engaged  to  me  for 
five  years." 

The  speaker's  tone  was  genuine.  Margaret 
realized  it  now,  and  every  particle  of  strength  for 
sook  her  body  as  she  lay  back  in  her  chair. 

"Yes  —  yes,  I  was  right,"  said  the  guest,  eye 
ing  her  pallor  and  nodding  thoughtfully ;  "  you  do 


love  him.  She  waited  half  a  minute,  during 
which,  1  hough  Margaret  essayed  to  speak,  no 
sound  would  conic,  while  her  life  seemed  ebbing 
away,  turtherand  further. 

••Ace  you  going  to  taint?"  asked  the  stranger. 
••Don't.  \\  e  have  so  much  to  talk  over,  and 
things  will  conn1  out  right  for  yon."  She  leaned 
forward  and  took  one  of  Margaret's  hands.  ••  For 
two  months  I  have  been  as  you  arc  now.  ^  on  see 
I  look  old  to-day,  although  I  am  hut  twenty-five; 
out  I  have  arrived  at  the  place  now  where  1  can 
act.  Fins  seemed  the  iirst  tiling  to  do.  K  n't  it 
strange  what  suffering  can  come  to  people  when 
nobody  is  to  blame  ?  Burton  and  1  would  have 
l)cen  man  it-d  long  ago  except  that  he  had  relatives 
to  support  \\lnle  lie  was  getting  started.  \\hen 
he  had  the  position  offered  him  in  Boston,  we 
saw  the  end  of  our  waiting.  In  the  case  of  every 
pair  they  say  there  is  one  who  loves  and  one  who 
is  loved.  I  always  knew  that  in  our  case  I  was 
the  one  who  loved:  Imt  I  was  satisfied.  I  think 
the  loving  one  is  the  happier?  '  She  put  it  as  a 
question,  and  she  regarded  her  listener  with  such 
appealing  gentleness,  holding  her  hand  all  the 
time  between  her  own  two  little  gloved  ones,  that 
Margaret  assented  with  a  slight  nod. 

"•  It  was  a  month  after  he  met  yon  before  I 
began  to  suspect  from  his  letters  that  he  was 
growing  to  love  yon.  He  did  n  t  know  it  himself 
till  lonii1  afterward.  He  told  me  all  about  you  in 


THE    ONE    QUESTION  295 

reply  to  my  questioning1  when  he  came  home  on  a 
visit,  and  I  did  not  dare  tell  him  what  I  feared, 
thinking  that  perhaps,  God  willing,  I  might  escape  ; 
but  the  next  time  we  met,  I  saw  that  he  had 
arrived  at  an  understanding  of  himself.  It  was 
on  the  night  of  your  concert  that  the  crisis  came, 
lie  would  never  have  told  me,  any  more  than  he 
would  you ;  hut  I  made  him.  I  questioned  him. 
Poor  Burton  !  " 

The  speaker  averted  her  gaze  and  fell  silent. 
Margaret's  faintness  had  passed,  and  her  thoughts 
were  wonderfully  lucid.  Her  talk  with  Miss 
Beebe  on  the  day  when  she  had  exploited  her 
theories  came  back  to  her. 

"•  I  don't  see  why  you  came  to  me,"  she  said 
at  last.  u  Does  Mr.  Vandyke  know  that  you  are 
here?" 

"Do  you  understand  him  so  little?"  asked 
Miss  Sterling  wonderingly,  looking  up  at  her. 
"  I  want  to  ask  you  this  favor,"  she  went  on  after 
a  silence.  "  I  want  to  ask  you  never  to  tell  him 
I  came,  but  my  reason  for  coming-  was  plain 
enough.  If  you  did  not  love  him,  then  where 
would  be  the  use  of  my  giving'  him  up  ?  "  She 
asked  it  so  simply,  with  a  smile  of  interrogation, 
that  Margaret  was  painfully  touched. 

"  You  are  not  going  to  give  him  up,"  she  replied 
quickly. 

The  visitor  shook  her  head. 

"  You  do  not  believe  that  I  love  him,  or  you 


A    GRl'.AT   LOVE 

would  n't  say  that.      I    fought  against   it  at  first. 
I    tried    to    think    I     needn't,    especially   as   he — 
Oh,   Miss   Carruth,   if   yon  knew   how  beautifully 
and  tenderly  he  talked   to  me,  it  would   have  made 
yon  care  more  for  him  than  ever." 

At  this  point  the  little  woman  did  drop  her 
head  and  lift  her  handkerchief  to  her  eyes.  In  an 
instant,  however,  she  smiled,  looking  up  through 
the  bright  drops.  ••  There  are  always  more  tears," 
she  said  apologetically,  ••  even  when  one  is  sure 
they  must  all  be  shed. 

'•  Mr.  Vandyke  wishes  to  marry  yon.  1  honor 
him  for  it."  said  Margaret. 

••  That  shows  that  you  are  as  noble  as  he  is." 
Miss  Sterling  regarded  Margaret  afresh.  ••  1  see 
you  are  going  to  understand,  and  know  that  he 
never  dreamed  of  making  you  care  for  him.  lie 
does  not  believe  you  do.  1  felt  sure  you  must, 
and  so  I  came  to  see  before  I  decided  irrevocably. 
lie  says  that  you  are  set  apart  from  average-  peo 
ple  by  your  great  gift  :  that  you  will  belong  to  the 
whole  world  :  but  he  —  he  is  set  apart  from  aver 
age  people  too,  by  many  gifts.  Oh,  Miss  Carruth, 
I  have  had  live  blissfully  happy  years  !  ?Sot  every 
woman  can  say  as  much  ''.  "  She  looked  again 
with  the  questioning  appeal  at  Margaret,  whose 
pain  was  very  great  as  she  smiled  hack  again. 

••  Mr.  Vandyke  is  right."  she  said  composedly; 
t-  my  lot  cannot  be  one  of  domestic  happiness." 

"  lint  there  is  no  other  that   can  fill  a  woman's 


THE    ONE    QUESTION  297 

heart."  The  quick  reply  met  an  unspoken  pas 
sionate  assent  in  the  soul  of  the  listener. 

To  Margaret,  grown  old  in  the  last  ten  minutes, 
it  seemed  that  her  whole  life  had  been  a  prepara 
tion  for  this  hour.  Why  should  this  little,  tender, 
confiding  creature  be  sacrificed  to  her  ?  What 

O 

happiness  could  there  be  for  Vandyke  in  allowing 
any  cause  but  death  to  prevent  him  from  fulfilling 
his  promise  to  her  ? 

The  blue  eyes,  unconscious  of  their  own  pathos, 
were  studying  her  face,  and  it  was  a  very  gentle 
and  protecting  gesture  with  which  Margaret  re 
plied  :  — 

"  Somebody  has  said  that  we  are  nowhere  com 
manded  to  be  happy.  I  have  for  years  been 
watching  for  signs  to  indicate  if  it  were  my  mis 
sion  to  sing.  See  this,  now,  that  has  come." 

A  quick  breath  like  a  sob  caught  in  the  other's 
throat.  w'  Don't  tempt  me !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Help 
me.  Oh,  Miss  Carruth,  you  are  thinking  of  me ! 
Let  us  think  only  of  Burton." 

By  a  spontaneous,  mutual  movement,  her  head 
was  suddenly  on  Margaret's  breast  and  Margaret's 
arms  were  around  her. 

"  I  shall  make  it  easy  for  him,"  went  on  the 
soft,  eager  voice.  "  When  he  knows  that  you  do 
care  for  him,  it  will  all  come  about  naturally." 

Margaret's  eyes,  large  and  dim,  looked  over  the 
speaker's  head,  through  the  window,  out  upon  the 
sea. 


••  Perhaps,  after  all,  I  understand  him  the  bet 
ter."  she  v;ii(l.  ••  I  don  t  know  your  cireuinstaix  es, 
or  what  you  would  ha\v  left  if  yon  i^aye  him  up." 

••  I  should  hasc  the  knowledge  of  his  happi 
ness,"  was  the  (|iii<-U  reply.  "If  would  lie  all 
that  I  eared  for.  no  matter  what  else  in  the  world 
was  mine." 

••  Then  if  yon  did  not  ha\e  that  knowledge,  yon 
would  lie  poor  indeed. 

"  It   is.  tiie  tiling  that  could  Idll  inc." 

l-  \  cry  well.  I  am  sure  his  happiness  could 
not  l»c  u'a:ii"d  by  u'iviiiu'  you  up." 

••  That  is  because  you  do  not  know  ho\\  ehcer- 
ftill\  I  will  lu'liave  '.\iiii  him."  Mi.—  Sterling 
raised  herself,  the  better  to  look  convincin^iv  into 
he!'  viyal's  face. 

Margaret  smiled  at  hei1  with  unsteady  lips,  and 
presently  she  spoke  :  -  - 

••  \Y  hat  are  your  plans  '.' 

k- To  _n'o  liack  to  the  hotel  at  Crest  View  and 
s])end  the  niidit.  and  to-morrow  to  ^o  to  Ho^ton 
and  see  I>urton." 

"•  I  think"  you  would  In-tter  stay  with  me  for  a. 
while  instead.  Xo  words  can  tell  you.  Miss  Ster 
ling,  how  you  surprise  me  by  you)1  broad  and  un- 
sellish  treatment  of  me." 

•w  lint  nobody  was  to  blame."  explained  the 
other  simply. 

••That  doesn't  always  make  a  difference. 

••  No.       It    did  n't  at    lirst  with    me.       I  was  \er\ 


THE    ONE    QUESTION  299 

wicked  at  first.  I  came  out  of  a  battle  that  was 
weeks  long,  to  come  here.  I  knew  Burton  had 
told  me  the  exact  truth,  and  yet  when  I  saw  a 
little  while  ago  how  I  shocked  you,  I  knew  all  at 
once  what  a  blow  this  new  knowledge  was  to  per 
haps  your  whole  life  's  plan.  I  could  n't  have 
borne  to  wound  you  so  if  I  had  n't  known  that 
you  could  be  comforted  again." 

"  I  believe  you  will  give  up  that  thought." 
Margaret  spoke  now  with  calmness.  "  Mr.  Van 
dyke  told  you  of  my  musical  success.  The  career 
has  always  been  one  of  the  greatest  interest  to 
me."  She  went  on  at  length,  raking  over  the 
dead  ashes  that  were  left  to  her,  to  convince  her 
rival  that  the  sparks  of  fire  which  were  left  were 
sufficient  to  kindle  again  a  blaze  that  would  cheer 
and  warm  her  life.  "  I  have  never  felt  certain 
that  it  was  right  for  me  to  bury  my  gift.  Now 
God's  finger  points  the  way." 

Miss  Sterling  listened  wistfully,  doubtfully. 

"  But  we  are  leaving  out  Burton.  How  can  we 
tell  without  Burton?"  she  said. 

"  Very  well,"  returned  Margaret  quietly.  "  Let 
us  send  for  him  to  come  here." 

In  a  few  minutes  it  was  settled  ;  a  messenger 
was  sent  to  the  hotel  for  Miss  Sterling's  luggage, 
and  Cliff  Nest  had  another  guest. 

Margaret  found  her  mother  in  her  room,  rising 
from  one  of  those  afternoon  naps  which  were 
restoring  that  vital  force  which  would  help  move 


A     GUI'.  AT    LOVE 

the  world  along  next  winter.  u  I  am  lazier  than 
usual  to-day  !  she  said,  laughing,  as  tin-  girl 
came  in.  "  No  wonder  \ou  came  to  set.1  v.  hat  \vas 
tin-  matter.  Margaret,  what  is  it  ?  What  lias 
happened  ?  '  The  speaker,  the  long1  hair  she  had 
just  unloosed  falling  around  her.  walked  ijuieklv 
forward  to  meet  her  daughter,  who  laid  a  hand 
on  each  of  her  shoulders  and  looked  hack  into 
her  eyes. 

"Mother"  —she  began,  bravely  smiling,  l>ut 
her  voice  would  not  serve  her.  ••  (  )  motlier."  she 
moaned,  sinking  into  the  ready  arms.  ••  the  light 
has  gone  out  ! 

Mrs.  ('arruth  held  her  clo>el\.  waiting.  \  he 
danger  which  had  been  so  long  foreseen,  the 
dreaded  rock  ahead  in  her  life,  had  been  safely 
passed  :  then  what  was  this? 

u  Mr.  Vandyke!"  she  murmured  after  an  in 
stant  in  the  ear  so  close  to  her. 

••lie  is  engaged."  said  Margaret. 

The  mother's  heart  beat  fast. 

'•  Another  mistake,  dear  !  "  she  exclaimed.  "It 
must  be." 

••  No.      His  fiancee  is  here." 

'•Here  still?  Here  now?"  asked  Mrs.  Car- 
ruth  sharply. 

••  Don't  use  that  tone."  returned  the  girl  bro 
kenly.  '•  She  is  here  because  I  asked  her  to  stay. 
She  is  a  gentle  little  child,  and  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven." 


THE    ONE    QUESTION  301 

They  sat  down  together  on  the  edge  of  the  bed, 
and  Margaret  told  her  mother  all. 

"  You  are  going  to  send  for  him !  "  repeated 
Mrs.  Carriith  at  last.  "  My  darling,  you  tax 
yourself  too  cruelly." 

«/  *-> 

"  It  is  the  only  way.  Otherwise  Miss  Ster 
ling  will  go  to  him  and  tell  him  that  I  —  even  if 
I  conld  use  arguments  to  convince  her  that  it  was 
better  not,  she  could  not  help  it.  She  is  too 
transparent,  too  unselfish.  I  must  do  it.  When 
you  know  her,  you  will  say  so  too.  It  is  the 
supreme  moment  of  my  life,  mother.  Xo  one  can 
help  me  but  you,  and  no  one  could  help  me  as  you 
can.'' 

"  Margaret,  are  n't  you  perhaps  making  a  great, 
great  mistake  ?  I  have  heard  you  give  your  opin 
ion  that  a  man  situated  as  Mr.  Vandyke  is  now 
should,  in  spite  of  all  obstacles,  marry  the  woman 
he  loves." 

"  I  know,"  a  spasmodic  sob  convulsed  Mar 
garet's  breast ;  "  but  this  sweet  girl  has  given  him 
five  years  of  her  life.  She  loves  him  absolutely. 
What  happiness  could  come  to  any  of  us  from 
ignoring  her  rights  ?  lie  feels  so,  or  he  would 
have  come  to  Cliff  Nest  before  this.  What  might 
change  him  would  be  her  representations  if  I  let 
her  see  him  before  I  do.  He  might  be  convinced. 
He  might  not  be  able  to  withstand  "  —  a  dry  sob 
again  wrenched  the  girl's  breast  and  stopped  her 
speech. 


The  two  sat  in  silence  for  half  a  minute.  Mar 
garet  was  first  to  speak. 

••  Mother,  there  will  he  a  consequence  upon  this 
matter  that  you  will  have  to  face.  Dear,  noble 
mother,  the  girl  embraced  her  tenderly,  "one 
sacrifice  will  he  of  no  avail  without  the  other. 
Mr.  Vandyke  believes  that  I  shall  sin-.  Miss 
Sterling  will  marry  him.  believing  that  that  will 
fill  my  life." 

Her  tone  broke  down  Mrs.  ('arruths  strong 
self-control.  She  bowed  her  head  and  wept, 
quietly,  "(iod  -rant  it  may.  Margaret !  ^  ours 
is  a  great  love.  1  will  not  refuse  to  do  my  part." 


CHAPTER   XX 

AT    SUNSET 

MARGARET  understood  the  anxiety  it  would 
cause  Vandyke  should  she  send  him  word  that  Miss 
Sterling  was  at  Cliff  Xest.  She  therefore  merely 
wrote,  asking1  him  to  give  her  a  day  as  soon  as 
opportunity  offered,  and  stating  that  she  needed 
his  advice. 

lie  responded  with  a  telegram,  and  the  follow 
ing  day,  at  evening,  Margaret,  sitting  alone  upon 
the  piazza,  saw  his  cab  drive  into  the  grounds. 

In  the  minute  before  it  stopped  at  the  steps 
near  her,  the  girl  prayed  as  she  had  never  in  her 
life  prayed,  for  strength,  wisdom,  and  self-control. 

The  sunset  sky,  azure  still  from  the  day's  love 
liness,  was  painted  with  a  broad  brush  in  giant 
swirls  of  rose  and  crimson.  The  vast  spaces  of 
heaven  above  and  earth  beneath  were  awe-inspir 
ing,  and  Vandyke  stood  long  beside  Margaret 
watching  the  subtle  and  grand  changes  as  they 
fell. 

"  You  look  as  if  you  needed  this,"  she  said  at 
last. 

"  I  was  glad  of  a  necessity  to  bring  me,"  he 
answered. 


lie  still  looked  at  the  sea  as  IK-  spoke.  The 
girl  had  not  yet  been  able  to  hold  his  glance.  lie. 
too,  had  come  fortified,  and  his  gravity  and  dig 
nity  made  .Margaret's  heart  flutter  momentarily 
with  doubts. 

She  stilled  them  with  an  upward  look.  His 
self-control  should  merely  be  a  prop  to  her  own. 
not  frighten  her  from  her  purpose. 

tv  Yon  must  take  in  great  draughts  of  in.-pira- 
tion  here.  Miss  Carrutli.  Here  are  the  color,  the 
breadth,  one  feels  in  your  singing." 

Margaret  looked  hack  at  the  opaline  ocean. 
\\  hat  rest  to  be  with  him  again  !  \\  hat  sym 
pathy  !  For  a  minute  she  let  herself  rest  in  it. 
drifting  irresponsibly,  like  the  dreaming  wave  that 
bathed  in  purple  and  rose  as  it  flowed  silently 
toward  the  beach. 

Ck  I  have  been  hoping  that  we  should  see  you 
here  of  your  own  accord,"  she  said  at  la*t.  "  On 
the  day  of  our  hurried  parting  on  the  train,  did 
yon  not  expect  to  come?" 

"  No.  I  had  already  discovered  that  I  must  not 
attempt  it/' 

"  Perhaps  it  is  as  well  that  you  did  not  tell 
me  so.  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  anticipa 
tion." 

u  You  are  very  kind/'  How  cold  Vandyke's 
tone  sounded  to  himself!  It  seemed  to  him  that 
he  was  holding  down  by  sheer  force  of  will  the 
slight  barrier  which  was  his  only  safeguard  against 


AT   SUNSET  .'505 

the  tumult  of  feeling  that  surged  in  him  again  at 
Margaret's  actual  proximity. 

'"  I  must  ask  you  to  tell  me  this  evening  what  it 
is  that  has  procured  for  me  the  honor  of  your 
message,  for  I  need  to  return  to  Boston  at  the 
earliest  moment." 

Margaret's  eyes  were  fixed  on  him,  and  she  saw 
his  lips  tremble.  He  raised  his  hand  and  smoothed 
his  mustache. 

The  maternal  instinct  that  is  in  every  woman's 
love  yearned  over  him.  AVhy  should  she  yield  to 
timidity  or  dread?  It  was  her  part  to  help  him 
in  sore  need.  The  shyness,  the  passivity  of  hap 
pier  girls  were  things  she  could  have  no  part  in. 
She  must  turn  her  back  on  petty  considerations 
and  be  strong. 

"•  I  sent  for  you,"  she  said,  "  because  Miss  Ster 
ling  has  visited  me." 

Vandyke's  nervous  start  was  evident.  His  hand 
dropped,  but  still  he  did  not  turn  his  face  in  her 
direction.  "  Why  did  she  come  ?  "  he  asked,  and 
his  voice  was  hard. 

"  For  love  of  you,"  answered  Margaret. 

There  was  an  instant's  silence.  "  Miss  Carruth," 
he  said  at  last,  "  it  has  sometimes  seemed  very 
strange  to  me  that  I  never  spoke  of  Miss  Sterling 
to  you.  I  had  no  reason  for  maintaining  silence 
excepting  that  I  had  no  right  to  suppose  that  you 
all,  who  so  kindly  took  in  a  stranger,  would  be 
interested  in  his  connections." 


••  I  think  the  fuult  WHS  largely  mine,"  returned 
the  girl.  ^  [  kept  my  own  affairs  uppermost  when 
'we  were  together." 

"  "i  on  think  it  WHS  n  fault,  tlien  7 "  lie  de 
manded. 

"  It  was  a  misfortune." 

«  Why?" 

Now  WHS  Margaret  s  need  for  strength.  '•  It 
WHS  a  misfortune  for  me.  It  would  have  changed 
my  thoughts  toward  you.  she  returned  simply  and 
bravely,  ••  to  know  that  von  were  engaged. 

.Her  implication  stole  slowly,  intoxicatingly  into 
Vandyke's  comprehension.  Now  he  turned  toward 
her.  and  such  ecstasy  Margaret  had  never  seen  in 
a  man  s  eyes.  She  perceived  that  as  the  suspicion, 
the  fact,  mastered  him,  he  was  forgetting  all  else, 
He  breathed  her  name  and  took  a  step  forward. 

k>  That  is  whv  Miss  Sterling  came."  she  added 
with,  instinctive  quickness.  "  She  came  to  find 
out  what  she  could  best  do  to  make  you  happy. 
She  is  an  angel  of  unselfishness. 

Vandyke  laid  a  hand  on  a  pillar  near  him. 
and  his  strong  frame  trembled  as  realization  of  the 
situation  returned  to  him,  but  his  gaze  still  rested 
on  Margaret. 

'"  She  surprised  the  truth  from  me,"  the  girl 
went  on,  ••  and  so  1  knew  "  —  the  breath  left  her 
for  a  second  in  the  difficulty  of  her  task  — "  I 
knew  I  must  see  you  before  she  did,  —  see  you  to 
tell  you  how  I  honor  you  for  your  decision." 


AT   SUNSET  307 

"  Can  I  make  her  happy  ?  "  he  ejaculated.  "  It 
is  my  last  question  at  night  and  my  first  each 
morning." 

"  Yes  ;  for  you  will  be  happy  yourself  in  doing 
the  right." 

The  sun  was  almost  gone,  and  its  last  rays 
showed  Margaret's  face  with  the  look  of  exaltation 
it  wore  when  she  sang. 

"  But  now  that  I  know  —  what  I  know  "  —  said 
Vandyke,  his  breathing  labored. 

The  girl  smiled  straight  into  his  eyes,  an  in 
spired  certainty  in  her  own,  so  clear  and  true. 

"  You  are  passing  through  the  worst  now,"  she 
said.  "  There  is  one  hope  of  blessedness  even  in 
this  world :  it  is  in  doing  right.  You  have  held 
to  it  so  far  with  splendid  strength  that  is  an  in 
spiration  to  me.  It  is  going  to  continue  to  be  an 
inspiration  to  me.  We  shall  be  able  to  think  of 
each  other  without  the  pursuit  of  those  sweet  blue 
eyes  that  would  if  we  —  if  we  yielded,  become  the 
avenging  sadness  of  our  lives.  Let  us  both  love 
her  and  take  care  of  her  ;  she  has  been  so  patient 
and  true.  I  will  go  into  the  world  and  sing.  You 
will  go  into  the  world  and  work.  Do  you  think 
there  will  be  no  reward  for  this  ?  Indeed,  indeed 
there  will !  She  is  here  now,  ready  to  forego 
everything,  ready  to  make  us  happy  in  any  way 
she  can.  When  you  tell  her  what  is  for  our  real 
happiness,  she  will  believe  you,  and  she  will  make 
such  a  heaven  about  you  in  her  gratitude  that  you 


will  sec  what  her  loss  would  have  been.  Hut  von 
knew  this  before  I  said  it.  You  had  determined 
on  your  course. 

They  looked  at  each  other  in  silence,  and  some 
thing,  in  Ins  eves  made  Margaret  continue,  slowly, 
solemnly,  as  one  speaks  who  takes  a  vow  :  ••  ^  on 
will  always  be  to  me  what  you  are  now.  I  >ha!l 
always  look  toward  yon  as  1  look  now.  even  though 
oceans  divide  us. 

His  hand  on  the  pillar  had  slowly  lost  its  rigid 
grasp.  "That  must  not  be.  Margaret,"  he  an- 
s\\  ered. 

She  smiled  at  him  with  confident  sweetness. 
k>  It  will  be  bcCdi/xc  it  must  be.  .-die  said  simply. 

And  so  in  many  hind.-'  a  woman,  whose  presence 
is  a  benediction,  carries  the  message  Jt  has  been 
given  her  to  sing. 

If  it  hi1  a  hymn  of  fatherland  that  employs  her 
ringing  tones,  the  patriot  spirit  revives  m  the  most 
enervated  breast.  If  sacred  strains  lead  up  from 
earth  to  heaven,  the  multitude  are  ready  to  follow, 
so  true  is  the  force  that  leads  the  way. 

Love  songs  fly  from  her  heart  straight  to  that 
of  every  lover,  thrilling  with  fresh,  strong  inspira 
tion  toward  purer,  loftier  feeling. 

Her  lullabies!  One  happy  blue-eyed  mother 
goes  home  from  them  to  shed  tears  of  renewed, 
unutterable  joy  over  her  own  darlings,  realizing 


AT   SUNSET  6(J\) 

that  slie  has  heard  voiced  that  universal  mother 
hood  which  would  enfold  each  tired  child  of  earth. 
The  love  that  soothes  and  strengthens,  the  love 
that  looks  up  and  inspires,  that  never  despairs  and 
always  believes,  —  that  gift  is  Margaret's.  It 
has  found  and  brought  rest  to  her  pure  soul,  for 
"  greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this." 


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